International Opulence Summer 2017

SUMMER 2017

SECRET SUPPER CLUBS

Shhh – Secrecy Never Tasted So Good!

TRULY CHIHULY

In New York And Beyond

ON THE WILDSIDE EXOTIC SUMMERTIME ANIMAL ADVENTURES

Enroll Now polaroiduniversity.com

YOU DREAM IT, WE FIND IT, YOU CHARTER IT

T I M E TO P L AY

WORLD CL ASS GAMING ICONIC ENTERTAINMENT ENDLESS SURPRISES SEMINOLEHARDROCKHOLLYWOOD.COM 2

Opulence Summer 2017

Summer 2017 Opulence

3

COCONUT GROVE

OIR NEW?

N O R M A N DY I S LE S

C U T L E R B AY

SUNNY ISLES

White Glove Real Estate Services i n t r o d u c i n g t h e a l l n e w MIAMI

O I R F L .CO M Bringing you all the flavor and richness of our unique neighborhoods and new construction renaissance.

INTERVIEWS with some of our most interesting residents

REVIEWS of the hottest new development projects

VENETIAN ISLANDS

305.615.1376 / oirfl.com 2060 N. Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33137

Š2017 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Each franchise independently owned and operated.

Experience the before and after

See more stories #CCBeforeAfter

californiaclosets.com 3 0 5 . 6 2 3 . 8 2 8 2 M IAM I

900 Park Centre Blvd.

THE ARCH- 1011 T<>Ulblk>n,4Contempxai1n

Robert Greubel & Stephen Forsey

LES BIJOUX Casino Level • Palazzo• Resort-Hotel-Casino Phone+1 702 650-2988 www.bellussoJewelers.com

509 Madison Avenue Phone +1 212751-9824

www.cellinijewelers.com

·

306 Plaza Real, Boca Raton Phone +1 561 361-2311 www.lesbijoux.com

NAPLES

The Waterside Shops• 5555 Tamiami Trail North #11 Phone+1 239 592-7707 www.yamron.com

DALLAS 6821 Preston Road Phone +1 214 522-2400 · +1 800 454-4367 www.deboulle.com

ffi)

(i-REUBEL FORSEY INVENTEURS HORLOGERS

TOURBILLON 24 SECONDES CONTEMPORAIN White gold case

.

lNFORM'ATION

WWW.GREUBELFORSEY.COM

ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. All artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or architectural renderings, sketches, graphic materials and photos depicted or otherwise described herein are proposed and conceptual only, and are based upon preliminary development plans, which are subject to change. This is not an offering in any state in which registration is required but in which registration requirements have not yet been met. This advertisement is not an offering. It is a solicitation of interest in the advertised property. No offering of the advertised units can be made and no deposits can be accepted, or reservations, binding or non-binding, can be made in New York until an offering plan is filed with the New York State Department of Law.

Introducing Palazzo Del Sol. 43 new waterfront condominium residences on celebrated Fisher Island. A haven of privacy and exclusivity, minutes from South Beach and the cultural attractions of Miami, with superbly curated building amenities and 6-star white-glove services for the entire family.

Designer Model Residences by Antrobus + Ramirez, Artefacto and Henge Available for Viewing Now Open for Immediate Occupancy Priced from $ 6.5 million to $ 35 million. info@palazzodelsol.com | +1 305 535 6071 palazzodelsol.com 7000 Fisher Island Drive Fisher Island, Florida 33109

A World Apar t BEACH | MARINA | TENNIS | GOLF | RESTAURANTS & BEACH CLUB SPA & FITNESS CENTER | BOUTIQUE HOTEL | DAY SCHOOL COUNTRY MARKET | FERRY SERVICE TO & FROM THE MAINLAND

75

86

32

98

T o p F E AT U R E S 38

Casamigos Tequila

Made By A House Of Friends– George Clooney and Rande Gerber – For A World Of Friends.

78

Weird & Wonderful Wildlife Safaris

44

Truly Chihuly Symbiotic Art in the Landscape by glass guru Dale Chihuly

12

Opulence Summer 2017

92

Highlights of Baselworld 2017

PURE SPIRIT PRISTINE NEWFOUNDLAND WATER

HERKIMER DIAMOND FILTERED

NATURALLY SMOOTH

Use your head...drink responsibly crystalheadvodka.com ©2015 Crystal Head and the Crystal Head bottle design are registered trademarks of Globefill Inc. Product of Canada. Vodka distilled from grain. 40% alc./vol.

32 32 Noshing With Nobu

56 2017 International

Critically acclaimed across the globe, Chef Nobu has amassed a restaurant empire (along with business partner actor Robert De Niro).

Secret

Spa Guide

35 Secret Underground Supper Clubs

SUPPER CLUBS

UNDER 48 GROUND

Experiences that offer mystery and exclusivity on the menu

63 Photographing

Design & Conquer Master Perla Lichi Conquers Space Problems.

Happiness in THE Land of Thunder Dragon

Pennsylvania-based photographer Frank T. Smith commemorates his intriguing travels to Bhutan.

68 Lavish Pop-Up Lodging

If you love the allure of pop-up restaurants, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll adore the exotic pop-up hotel concept.

52 A Kaleidoscope of

Bejeweled Eye Candy

An Exclusive Interview with Australian Designer and Glass Artisan Colin Heaney

72 Apitourism

The Beeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Knees in Travel

75 Dominica The

Nature Island

14

Opulence Summer 2017

Perla Lichi LUXURY YOUR UNIQUE SPACES. YOUR UNIQUE HOME.

PERLALICHI.COM

DESIGN | SPACE PLANNING | FURNISHINGS | INSTALLATION CONTEMPORARY Showroom 3304 North East 33rd Street Fort Lauderdale 33308 CORPORATE Headquarters 7381 W Sample Rd Coral Springs FL 33065

Tel 954-726-0899 FL ID #0001727 FL IB #26001492

86 105 U northodox Taxidermy

features (continued)

of Dr. Seuss

82 Gustavo Novoa

Jungle Of My Own

110 Celebrating 150 Years of Chautauqua

The Fanciful Wildlife Canvas Menageries of Gustavo Novoa

86 6 Exquisite Tiny Euro Towns You Didn’t Know Existed

113 Love Is …

All Around

2017’s annual Celebrity Martini Glass Auction attendees show love with record-breaking donations.

116 A Little Town Called Lake Worth 98 Mega Swinging Thru Fromberg Skydivers Launch Off the World’s Longest Swing.

118 Wicked Good Architecture

The Historic Homes of Salem, Massachusetts

departments

100 Fencing Like The Godfather

The Physical Chess of Czech foil fencer Alexander Choupenitch

16

Opulence Summer 2017

Editor’s Letter 18 Gadgets 20 Broadway Across America 21 National Concert Guide 22,24 Entertainment 23 National Dining Guide 26-29 Dishing With The James Beard Foundation President 30 Social Living 42-43 Tourism Trends in 2017 60-61 U.S. Dept. Of State- Travel Safety 62 What Women Want 85 Gentlemen’s Corner 94-95 Industry Leader Profile Paolo Buonfante: A Visionary In Beauty 96-97 Business Profile The Collector’s Collector 103-104 Medical News 122-123 International Issues: War Crimes 124 Human Trafficking & Sex Slavery 126-127 Condo Law 128 Real Estate Guide 130-144

Do You CrYo? Rejuvenation, Recovery and Weight Loss

www.cryoxtreme.com 786.646.1234

editor’s letter

A

PUBLISHING s the Earth’s axial tilt causes sun rays to beam at a steeper angle, summertime in our Northern Hemisphere brings uncanny seasonal miracles. Fireflies

synchronize their flashing lights at dusk, twinkling star patterns ap-

pear after a winter of concealment, flame-shaped rainbow clouds emerge during daylight, while bluish night-shining clouds materialize after sundown. Whales perform aerial stunts as they feed on northern coastlines, salmon swim upriver to spawn in their birthplace, and baby turtles hatch from their shells and scurry to the seashore.

In 2017, a first-time miracle happened: Extremely premature lambs were born healthy thanks to advance medical technology that allowed them to develop in an artificial womb (see page 122). This medical innovation may one day prove especially inspiring for human babies given that, currently, premature birth in the U.S. remains the leading cause of infant mortality.

News of this research reminded me of another summertime story I once heard. In the pre-dawn hours of early July 1965, in a rural farmhouse in Raymore, Missouri, 22-year-old Mary Janice awoke in discomfort.

The 110-pound elementary school teacher made her way downstairs for a drink of water. By 7 a.m., the sun had risen to a beautiful dawn, but the young woman was doubled over in pain. Her mother-in-law entered the kitchen to start breakfast, took one look at her, and said, “My goodness, you’re in labor!”

“What?” said the bewildered young woman who was barely showing a baby bump, “the baby isn’t due for months.” Minutes later, she was helped into the couple’s car and they sped off to Research Hospital in Kansas City, the longest 30-minute drive of their lives.

An hour later, in the delivery room, Dr. Marian Lambert made the announcement, “It’s a girl!” She hid her look of worry. The baby, weighing about 1100 grams (just over two pounds), was whisked away. Back then, according to Centers for Disease Control statistics, only one in eight premature babies born at 1000 grams survived because their lungs weren’t fully developed. The young mother wouldn’t be allowed the first touch of her newborn for many weeks, if ever. And in the unlikely chance the baby did survive, she’d likely be retarded, have cerebral palsy or lead a sickly life.

Fast-forward 51 years when the previously mentioned fetal medical technology is now emerging. Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have developed a remarkable womb-like device that provides an external amniotic-fluid-filled environment to bridge critical time from mother’s womb to the outside world. Premature lambs, which have prenatal lung development very similar to human babies, thrived in the artificial womb – showing normal breathing and swallowing, opening their eyes, growing wool, and developing with normal growth, neurological function and organ maturation. (To see a video of the lambs, go to www.internationalopulence.com.)

P.S. In case you were wondering, back in 1965, Mary Janice did get to hold her baby six weeks after birth.

Dr. Lambert gave the young mother strict infant care advice – including a 5-year prescription for special vitamins and instructions to teach the little girl to love every vegetable possible. The child grew up strong and healthy, graduated from college and now has four children of her own. I know for sure this story is true. That premature baby was me.

May the stories in our summer issue inspire you and remind you that hope never ceases and miracles can, and do, happen.

Robin Jay Editor in Chief

18

HORIZON

OPULENCE Summer 2017

Executive PUBLISHER & Owner Geoff Hammond, CEO Jayne Hammond, President Associate PUBLISHER David Hammond EDITOR IN CHIEF Robin Jay editor@internationalopulence.com SENIOR CREATIVE ART DIRECTOR Adriana Naylor artdirector@internationalopulence.com 954-331-3912 PRE-PRESS PRODUCTION ARTIST Crystal Baushke Marketing & Events director Chantal Forster marketingmanager@internationalopulence.com 954-331-3390 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT Michael Jay michaeljay@internationalopulence.com 954-593-5060 Contributing Writers: John D. Adams Kristen Mager Carol Antman Alona Abbady Martinez Stephanie Bowman Jill Patterson Roberto C. Blanch Erick Rodriguez Karen Christensen Ava Roosevelt Tarquin Cooper Todd R. Sciore Jana Soeldner Danger Alex Starace Patrice Janel Susan Ungaro Steven Joseph Carleton Varney Sarah Kern Kelly Villasuso Dale King & Julia Hebert Mary & Hugh Williamson Photographers Dan Brooke Douglas Lance Charlie McDonald Frank T. Smith Raul Villasuso, Jr. PROOFREADER Suzanne Shaw General Counsel Barry Weiss bweiss@csiinternational.com International Opulence Magazine is published quarterly by Horizon Publishing LLC. Copyright © 2017. All rights reserved. Horizon Publishing LLC, 6700 North Andrews Avenue, Suite 400, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 – Vol. 7, No. 2 Summer 2017 (ISSN # 2157-5274) Subscription Rates: $40 per year, $10 per issue. For subscription inquiries or change of address, contact the subscription department, (954) 308-4300 Ext. 4312, Fax: (954) 331-6028. Horizon Publishing, LLC, its affiliates and contributing writers have exercised due care in compiling the information contained herein, but with the possibility of human or mechanical error, cannot assume liability for the accuracy of this data. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in part or in full in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording and any information storage and retrieval system without first obtaining permission from the publisher.

Gadgets & Novelties Master Sculpz Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

▲

Put your little master builder’s creativity to the test! These fun, three-dimensional cutout sets have innumerable options to deepen a child’s understanding of sculpture, Cubism and Surrealism. $12. www.mcachicagostore.org

▲ San FranCisco Museum Of MODERN Art Impossible I-1 Camera Designed

by Impossible Project

The blue dragonfly umbrella is inspired by Louis Comfort Tiffany’s leaded-glass dragonfly lamps on view at the Morse. Stick or compact (auto open/close) $24.95. www. morsemuseum.org, museumshop@ morsemuseum.org

Museum of modern art, New York – WaterRower Rowing Machine

▲

For beginners, the I-1 is as easy to use as the beloved Polaroid® 600-type, but you get more control over the end result. Portraits turn out even better thanks to autofocus and the ring flash. $299 www.sfmoma.org

LOUIS C. TIFFANY INSPIRED UMBRELLA. THE CHARLES HOSMER MORSE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, WINTER PARK, FLORIDA

▲

When Polaroid® announced the end of instant film in 2008, Impossible stepped in to buy the last remaining factory, days before it closed down. Eight years later, with the help of some incredible chemists, engineers and photographers, they’re the only company worldwide making original format instant film, and now introduce the I-1 Impossible Camera.

▲

Channel the unbending power and steely determination of Frank Underwood with this elegant rowing machine, which builds strength and stamina by closely simulating a real world rowing experience. Its patented Waterflywheel, which moves through actual water, provides a smooth stroke that exercises 84% of your muscle mass evenly and prevents injuries. When not in use, the WaterRower can be stored vertically against a wall. Made in the USA from ethically sourced walnut wood. Assembly required. www.moma.org. $945.00

Zig Zag Chair, Museum of Modern Art, New York City

This classic design’s four panels bend in sequence from top to bottom—an elegant dance that brings instant visual appeal to your environment. $2,230.00. store.moma.org/shop

20

Opulence Summer 2017

Broadway 2017-18 Season

CHICAGO

CHICAGO

ORIENTAL THEATRE JULY 25-AUGUST 13, 2017

Miami

ORIENTAL THEATRE DEC. 7- DEC. 31, 2017

NEW YORK

Los Angeles

October 11-November 19 Ahmanson Theater

Eisenhower Theater July 11-Aug. 6, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO

Chicago

Ongoing Ambassador Theatre

Los Angeles

THE GOLDEN GATE JUNE 27- JULY 27, 2017

MIAMI

ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER Oct. 5- Oct. 15, 2017

August 11-December 30 Pantages Theater Hollywood

LOS ANGELES

NEW YORK

CHICAGO

Baltimore

THE AHMANSON AUG. 2-SEPT. 10, 2017

NEW YORK

Ongoing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

STEVEN SONDHEIM THEATRE ONGOING

February 27, 2018-March 4, 2018 Adrienne Arsht Center October 17-October 22 Hippodrome Theater

Washington, DC

NEW YORK

ASTOR PLACE THEATRE ONGOING

MARQUIS THEATRE ONGOING

FORT LAUDERDALE

BROWARD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS JUNE 13-JUNE 25, 2017

MIAMI

ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER DEC. 26- DEC. 31, 2017

THE PRIVATEBANK THEATRE RUNNING THROUGH SEPT. 17, 2017

LOS ANGELES

AHMANSON THEATRE MAY 16-JUNE 24, 2017

New York

Richard Rodgers Theatre ongoing

SAN FRANCISCO

SHN ORPHEUM THEATER STARTING MARCH, 17, 2017

Washington, DC Kennedy Center Coming SEPT. 2018

Chicago

Oriental Theatre June 14-July 9, 2017

Washington, DC

July 18-August 20 The Kennedy Center

NEW YORK

Ongoing Eugene Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill Theatre

Miami

NEW YORK

LONGACRE THEATRE ONGOING

November 28-December 3 Adrienne Arsht Center

Washington, DC

December 27, 2017January 7, 2018 The Kennedy Center

Baltimore

November 16-December 10 Hippodrome Theater

Washington, DC

October 24-November 19 The Kennedy Center

NEW YORK

Ongoing Minskoff Theatre

Baltimore

October 3-October 8 Hippodrome Theater

Ft. Lauderdale

November 7November 19 Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Washington, DC

THE National Theatre June 20-JULY 2, 2017

NEW YORK

Now through January 18, 2018 Broadway Theatre

NEW YORK

AMBASSADOR THEATRE THROUGH JULY 16, 2017

CHICAGO

ORIENTAL THEATRE JULY 11- JULY 23, 2017

Los Angeles

November 21December 31 Ahmanson Theater

Ft. Lauderdale

December 12-December 24 Broward Center for the Performing Arts

NEW YORK

Ongoing Winter Garden Theatre

Ft. Lauderdale

October 10-October 22 Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Summer 2017

OPULENCE

21

2017 National Calendar

NYC

CHICAGO Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper Blondes Just Want To Have More Fun!

July 18

Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, 1000 Ocean Pkwy, Wantagh, NY. www.jonesbeach.com

Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams Tour

August 17

Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, IL. www.soldierfield.net

Paul McCartney One on One Tour

September 11

Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St, Newark, NJ. www.prucenter.com

Trevor Noah

October 20

The Chicago Theater, 175 N State St, Chicago, IL. www.thechicagotheatre.com

Mike Birbiglia “The New One”

December 8

The Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St, Chicago, IL www.thechicagotheatre.com

LOS ANGELES Ed Sheeran

September 29October 1 Bruno Mars 24K Magic World Tour

Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY www.barclayscenter.com

September 22 & September 23

Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY. www.thegarden.com

CHICAGO LollApalooza Music Festival

August 3-6

Grant Park, 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL. www.lollapalooza.com 22

OPULENCE Summer 2017

Pentatonix 4th of July Firework Spectacular

July 2-4

Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA. www.hollywoodbowl.com

By Sarah Kern

Entertainment

EIGHT-LEGGED OVATIONS AT OVO

C

irque du Soleil’s latest enchanting acrobatic adventure intertwines insects and other creepycrawly creatures.

An evening with marching ants, flexible fleas, silky spiders, crazy crickets and other outrageous insect critters may at first sound creepy and repulsive – but al contrario! Thanks to the latest out-ofthis-world creative live performance from Cirque du Soleil – OVO aims to challenge these preconceptions and change the minds of entomophobes the world over.

“Ovo” is the Portuguese term for egg, as well as the title of this acrobatic adventure through the world that lies underfoot. And it has fans squirming in delight.

The OVO Story After discovering a large egg in their home, the insects of the forest, which include a ladybug, butterflies, spiders, and other forest-dwelling critters, are faced with a conundrum that ultimately represents the puzzling question of their existence and life cycle.

Featuring high-flying acrobats and extreme contortionists, OVO portrays a realm that the human eye has only caught a glimpse of and

brings to life this seemingly miniscule world.

The 50 performers in this thrilling showcase have gathered from around the world, 12 countries to be exact, to take part in its production and execution.

“OVO presents 10 unique circus acts you’ve never seen before. It pushes the limits of the human body, blending, mixing and reinventing circus disciplines,” said OVO publicist Nicolas Chabot. “You’ll find yourself making all sorts of weird facial expressions when you see a contortionist bending in half, or a person being thrown up in the air and caught 6 meters away.”

50 technicians and management crew that work on the grid, under the stage and backstage. Together they bring to life the world of OVO.” Both on stage and behind the scenes, OVO is unparalleled in its ability to entertain and captivate audiences of all ages teaching lessons about life, love and existence.

OVO is coming to a stage near you: Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center, July 5-7

This colorful OVO ecosystem captures the eyes and engages the senses to leave audiences awestruck and amazed. In addition to the exquisite display of human strength and talent is the technical array of lights and scenes cast onto the “big wall.” Over 40 days of shooting in a model forest constructed of natural elements led to the compelling images that help define OVO.

Sunrise, FL – BBT Center, July 13-23

What The Eye Can’t See

Baltimore, MD – Royal Farms Arena, August 23-27

“Every night, to make this show happen, there are several dozen artists on stage.

What the audience can’t see is the team of

Miami, FL – American Airlines Arena, July 28-30 Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, August 2-6 Fairfax, VA – Eaglebank Arena, August 16-20

Uniondale, NY – NYBC Live, August 30-Sept. 3 For additional arenas and dates, go to www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo

Summer 2017

OPULENCE

23

2017 National Calendar

LOS ANGELES

Washington DC

Shawn MendeS

July 12

STAPLES Center, 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA. www.staplescenter.com

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Soul 2 Soul 2017

October 13

Verizon Center Washington DC, 601 F St NW, Washington, DC www.verizoncenter.monumentalsportsnetwork.com

Gary Owen and Deon Cole

October 28

The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 10 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD www.mgmnationalharbor.com

MIAMI/FORT LAUDERDALE/PALM BEACH Jack Johnson JAMTOWN featuring Donavon Frankenreiter, G. Love & Cisco Adle

July 16

Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA. www.hollywoodbowl.com

Daryl Hall & John Oats: Tears for Fears

July 28-29

STAPLES Center, 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA. www.staplescenter.com

Diana Ross

June 24

Roger Waters Us + Them Tour

July 13

Washington, DC

Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach . www.Kravis.org

J. Cole: 4 Your Eyez Only Tour

New Kids On the Block: The Total Package Tour with Paula Abdul and Guns nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Roses Not In Boyz II Men This Lifetime Tour

August 8

John Mayer

August 25

Verizon Center Washington DC, 601 F St Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Dr, NW, Washington, DC. www.verizoncenter. Bristow, VA monumentalsportsnetwork.com www.bristowamphitheater.com

24

Opulence Summer 2017

American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami www.aaarena.com

July 6

August 8

Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com

Marlins Park, 501 Marlins Way, Miami m.mlb.com/marlins/tickets/info/gnr

Winter 2016/17

Opulence

25

DINING

GUIDE

National Dining Guide 2017

The 2017 James Beard Award Winners Are…

BY Alex Starace

Often described as the “Oscars of Food,” the annual James Beard Awards took place on May 1 at the world-renowned Lyric Opera in Chicago. Hosted by Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, the black-tie affair celebrated the finest in the culinary arts, with a food-and-drink tasting gala afterward.

International Opulence, a proud member of the James Beard Foundation, sampled, chatted and dined, as did food luminaries like Rick Bayless, Andrew Zimmern and David Chang. Here is a selection of the night’s biggest winners.

All photos of chefs courtesy of Huge Galdones

BEST New Restaurant Le Coucou 138 Lafayette Street, NYC • (212) 271-4252 • www.lecoucou.com Chef Daniel Rose’s first stateside restaurant, Le Coucou has a classic French menu with an American twist.

The inventiveness and the ever-fresh ingredients make it a must-try in SoHo.

Outstanding Chef Michael Solomonov – Zahav 237 St. James Place, Philadelphia • (215) 625-8800 • www.zahavrestaurant.com Born in Israel and raised in Pittsburgh, Solomonov previously won the 2011 James Beard Awards for “Best Chef, MidAtlantic.” His small-plate restaurant, Zahav, brings the authentic flavors of Israel to Philadelphia, with a modern interpretation.

O utstanding Pastry Chef Ghaya Oliveira – Daniel 60 E. 65th Street, NYC • (212) 288-0033 • www.daniel.nyc.com Ghaya Oliveira’s traditional-yet-creative pastries are to die for at Daniel, a French restaurant on the Upper East Side inspired by the seasons, with a world-class wine list.

26

Opulence Summer 2017

DINING National Dining Guide 2017

Outstanding Restaurant

GUIDE

Topolobampo 445 N. Clark Street, Chicago • (312) 661-1434 • www.rickbayless.com

Rick Bayless’s most elegant location, this contemporary Mexican restaurant allows diners to choose their own tasting menu, based on whether they’re most interested in having a “vibrant,” “soulful,” or “enchanting” meal.

O utstanding Restaurateur Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurants Stephen Starr, who’s been in the restaurant and entertainment business since age 21, heads 33 restaurants across the East Coast, including the 2017 James Beard best new restaurant, Le Coucou, and several south Florida restaurants, like Le Zoo, Upland and Makoto.

Rising Star Chef Zachary Engel, Shaya 4213 Magazine Street, New Orleans • (504) 891-4213 • www.shayarestaurant.com Zachary Engel cut his teeth at Michael Solomonov’s Zahav, and has since branched out on his own. His current restaurant, Shaya, is modern Israeli, a fusion of Southern flavors and Mediterraneaninspired dishes.

Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional Sam Galagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery • www.dogfish.com Brewery: 6 Cannery Village Center, Milton, DE • (302) 684-1100.

Brewpubs: 316 and 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE • (302) 226-2739. Sam Galagione is known for his experimental craft beers, with wild ingredients like maple syrup or black limes. Dogfish Head Brewery is also known for its line of India Pale Ales, making a visit a must if you’re in Delaware.

2017 Humanitarian of the Year

Denise Cerreta, One World Everybody Eats Salt Lake City Denise Cerreta’s non-profit is dedicated to increasing food security through a pay-what-you-can restaurant model. There are over 60 restaurants in the organization’s network. Find one near you at www.oneworldeverybodyeats.org.

2017 James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award Nora Pouillon – Restaurant Nora 2132 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, DC • (202) 462-5143 • www.noras.com A long-time champion of organic, environmentally conscious food, Nora Pouillon has been on the forefront of eating healthily and sustainably. Her Restaurant Nora was the first certified organic restaurant in the United States.

Outstanding Bar Program Arnaud’s French 75 Bar 813 Rue Bienville, New Orleans • (504) 523-5433 • www.arnaudsrestaurant.com Enjoy classic cocktails or inventive new concoctions at this bar in the French Quarter, part of Arnaud’s restaurant, which has defined New Orleans fine dining since 1918.

Summer 2017 Opulence

27

DINING

GUIDE Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL IN, MI, OH) Sarah Gruenberg – Monteverde 1020 W Madison Street, Chicago • (312) 888-3041• www.monteverdechicago.com A native Texan, Sarah Grueneberg opened Monteverde in the hot West Loop neighborhood. Patrons enjoy modern Italian with traditional flourishes, such as the authentic in-house balsamic vinegar, stored in barrels known as a “batteria.”

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Greg Vernick – Vernick Food & Drink 2031 Walnut Street, Philadelphia • (267) 639-6644 • www.vernickphilly.com Growing up, Greg Vernick’s mother owned a restaurant and his grandfather owned a butcher’s shop, making the culinary arts a natural choice for his profession. He opened Food & Drink with his wife Julie, offering seasonal contemporary American cuisine.

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) Kevin Nashan, Sidney Street Café 2000 Sidney Street, St. Louis • (314) 771-5777 • www.sidneystreetcafestl.com Kevin Nashan blends his Spanish and New Mexican heritage, French training, and Southern elements together for the fare at Sidney Street Café. Not to be missed, the café’s on-site garden supplies fresh produce for the menu, as well as for the neighborhood.

28

OPULENCE Summer 2017

National Dining Guide 2017

Regional Awards Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs) Marco Canora – Hearth 403 East 12th Street, New York • (646) 602-1300 • www.restauranthearth.com Known for popularizing bone broth in NYC, Marco Canora has been promoting healthy fine dining in Manhattan since 2003, when he opened Hearth. His restaurant uses seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, which are prepared with an Italian influence.

Best Chef: Northeast (CT,MA, ME, NH, NY State, RI, VT)

Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley – Eventide Oyster Co. 86 Middle Street, Portland, ME • (207) 774-8538 • www.eventideoysterco.com Neither Taylor nor Wiley attended cooking school, but their love of food and running a crisp business means that Eventide is always hopping. This revival of the classic oyster bar includes culinary surprises and occasional Asian-inspired inflections.

Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)

Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton and Greg Denton – Ox 2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Portland, OR • (503) 284-3366 • www.oxpdx.com This husband-and-wife cooking duo debuted Ox in 2012. Inspired by the wood-grilling tradition of Argentina, this steakhouse has classic cuts with chimichurri, as well as fish and local ingredients to match the Pacific Northwest palate.

National Dining Guide 2017

DINING

GUIDE

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR) Rebecca Wilcomb – Herbsaint 701 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans • (504) 524-4114 • www.herbsaint.com Rebecca Wilcomb is the second “Best Chef: South” to come out of Herbsaint, a mainstay on New Orleans’ best restaurant lists. The contemporary seasonal French-Southern cuisine perfectly matches the restaurant’s St. Charles Avenue location.

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) Steven Satterfield – Miller Union 999 Brady Ave NW, Atlanta • (678) 7338550 • www.millerunion.com A member of Slow Food Atlanta, Steven Satterfield is dedicated to seasonal, local cooking. His restaurant, Miller Union, embodies these traits with a New American fare. It was also a 2017 James Beard Finalist for “Outstanding Wine Program.”

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT) Hugo Ortega – Hugo’s Houston 1600 Westheimer, Houston • (713) 5247744 • www.hugosrestaurant.net A native of Mexico City, Hugo Ortega immigrated to the United States in 1984. He has four well-known restaurants in Houston. His Hugo’s Houston is traditional Mexican cuisine at its finest, supplemented with award-winning wine, cocktail and tequila menus.

Best Chef: West (CA, HI, NV) Corey Lee – Benu 22 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco • (415) 685-4860 • www.benusf.com A two-time James Beard Award winner, Corey Lee won his first at French Laundry. His current restaurant, Benu, is tastingmenu only, has the ever-coveted three Michelin stars and its own cookbook. A high-end contemporary American restaurant with Asian influences, it’s not to be missed.

Summer 2017 Opulence

29

dishing with the James Beard Foundation President meat as a sacrifice to the gods of the stomach.

For while barbecuing is a very old and primitive way of cooking, it is also one of the most appetizing methods of dealing with meat known to man, and it deserves to be done with some semblance of technique, accuracy, and care.

Susan Ungaro In Beard on Food, James Beard wrote about a number of culinary topics, from a lesson in chicken anatomy to his six essential herbs to the merits of the perfect sandwich. One of my favorites this time of year is this ode to cooking alfresco — a timeless primer to kick off grilling season. Happy summer!

— Susan Ungaro

From ‘Beard On Food’…

Walk down the streets of any town, large or small, on a summer evening when dinner is cooking in many a patio and back garden, and the smell of the scented smoke that wafts on the air will give you an idea of how good the various outdoor chefs are. While some are grilling their meat to juicy, mouthwatering tenderness, others are merely shrinking it to a charred hard hunk that would be shunned by anyone with a decent palate.

Grilling, broiling, barbecuing—whatever you want to call it—is an art, not just a matter of building a pyre and throwing on a piece of

One of the greatest mistakes is adding too much fuel. Charcoal briquets, which have become the almost universal fuel for outdoor cooking in this country, are efficient and simple to use, but all too few people realize that they give the best results when used economically. If you have a little hibachi, you don’t really need more than 12 to 14 briquets (or at the very most 20 to 24) to cook a normal amount of meat for two or three.

Even with the big-wheeled grills that can do enough for a large family, certainly 30 to 40 briquets will suffice. If you are spit-roasting a turkey, a very large beef roast, a suckling pig, or a whole baby lamb, all of which take longer to cook, you may need more than 40 or 45 briquets, but the extra amount may be added later on as required. Always start your fire in ample time to let the coals form and the briquets burn down to the point where they are veiled in a lovely white ash and exude an even heat. I build my briquets in a pyramid, and if I don’t have an electric starter, I use briquets that have been soaked in some form of liquid fuel.

By Susan Ungaro

I let them burn up, and as they catch, I spread them out over the fire bed, touching, which makes for better coals than if you let them burn up in the pyramid and try to spread them out later.

The secret of good grilling is to have an even distribution of heat. If the briquets are allowed to form the right kind of bed of heated coals and ash, the whole grill will be evenly heated with a surface temperature between 350 and 375°F, the ideal medium for cooking.

For properly cooked meat, time the grilling.

First measure the meat. If a steak is 2 inches thick, give it 10 minutes per side if you like it very rare. Let it brown gradually on one side, turn, and cook until browned on the other. If you want to char the outside, let it cook to the point of doneness you like, then increase the heat either by bringing up the firebox or by adding more briquets on the outside of the fire, letting them catch and then building them up under the meat so the heat increases all at once. Turn quickly to char both sides.

That’s just about all there is to outdoor cooking—a good fire, good coals, and patience, for this is one endeavor in which patience, rather than speed, should be your watchword.

— James Beard, Beard on Food

James Beard’s Steak au Poivre Ingredients ◆ One 3-pound sirloin or rib-eye steak (about 2-inches thick) ◆ 11⁄2 tablespoons crushed peppercorns ◆ Large dollop of sweet butter ◆ 6 bell peppers, assorted colors ◆ Olive oil, for brushing peppers Method With the heel of your hand, press the crushed peppercorns firmly into the steak on both sides. Let the steak stand thus for 30 to 45 minutes, then grill according to your preference. When it is cooked to your liking, remove the steak, set it aside on a hot platter or board and top with salt to taste and a large dollop of sweet butter.

Cut the peppers into quarters, remove the seeds, dip in oil, and grill until tender.

30

OPULENCE Summer 2017

Noshing with PHOTO: DANIELLE LIU

NOBU

BY KELLY VILLASUSO

32

OPULENCE Summer 2017

International Opulence: Chef Nobu, your name has become synonymous with Japanese cuisine. What do you want “Nobu” to mean to your guests?

Chef Nobu: “Nobu Style” cuisine is rooted in tradition, but it is also influenced by new flavors, local ingredients, and our passion in the kitchen. When we first opened Nobu, our focus was on providing the best food made from the best ingredients and on giving our customers something made with

passion. That is still our focus today. For me, it is always about our customers and creating something from the heart.

In the 23 years since we founded the first Nobu in New York, Japanese food has become part of the world’s cuisine, and we are proud that we have been a part of that, but there are still so many new ingredients to discover and new dishes to create, so I don’t look back, only forward. We are always working on something new. It keeps things exciting. Our fans keep asking for more Nobus! It’s like fashion—there are always upgrades, new materials and better quality ingredients. I don’t like to stop and say, ‘Okay, this is good.’ I’m always looking to make things better.

“Nobu Style” cuisine is rooted in tradition, but it is also influenced by new flavors, local ingredients, and our passion in the kitchen.”

– Chef Nobu Matsuhisa

International Opulence: Chef, how does the Nobu restaurant experience transcend into your growing number of boutique hotels?

Chef Nobu: It was a fun challenge to think about how to create a Nobu experience in a hotel. We all want to be surrounded by the things we love when we travel, but also discover something new. So, first we started with a comfortable bed, beautiful sheets, phone charger in the right place.

It became very important to have a clean palate—like a clean plate—so that you can experience your beautiful surroundings. Room service from Nobu is always good, too!

International Opulence: Did you ever consider leaving your day job as “Sushi God” to become an actor after your

Signature Rock Shrimp Creamy Spicy

by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa

PHOTO: STEVEN FREEMAN

T

he “Emperor of Sushi.” The “Sushi God.” The “Sushi Tycoon.” A chef by any other name is not Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the man behind the world’s obsession with Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine and…sushi. Critically acclaimed across the globe, Chef Nobu has amassed a Nobu restaurant empire (along with business partner actor Robert De Niro) with 32 restaurants in 28 different cities around the world, spanning across five continents, not to mention several family-held Matsuhisa restaurants (the namesake restaurant that started it all) and various boutique Nobu Hotels.

International Opulence “noshed” with Chef Nobu about what his culinary superstardom means to him and what he hopes it means to his passionate followers.

Summer 2017 Opulence

33

appearances in the movies Casino, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Girl from Nagasaki, and Austin Powers: Goldmember?

Chef Nobu: I really enjoyed being part of these movies, but in general, I do the cooking and Bob (Robert De Niro) does the acting.

International Opulence: Chef Nobu, after your restaurant in Anchorage, Alaska, burned to the ground, you thought it was your last chance to make something of yourself. All your hopes and ambitions had gone up in smoke. You fell into depression and started to think that the only way to get out of it was to take your own life. What words do you offer on perseverance to others facing similar crises or paralyzing loss?

Chef Nobu: Be patient, try your best, appreciate what you have, and focus on your food. Cook with your heart. If you keep trying your best, good things happen. It’s important to remember to take it one step at a time. Eventually, you’ll be able to look back and see how far you’ve come. It’s a great feeling.

International Opulence: Do you have any culinary “guilty pleasures”?

Chef Nobu: Tequila, especially Don Julio 1942.

International Opulence: Who is your favorite chef outside of the Matsuhisa and Nobu restaurants?

Chef Nobu: I never like to say favorite, but I am lucky to have close friends who are talented chefs like Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, Jose Andres and Jean-Georges. I also just worked with Danny Garcia in Marbella and that was a special experience.

International Opulence: Where do you like to go to decompress from the hustle and bustle?

34

Opulence Summer 2017

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro

Chef Nobu: My home in Japan where I can relax with family.

International Opulence: What makes you most proud about Nobu?

Chef Nobu: We have Nobu restaurants on five continents. I feel like I have the biggest family in the world and people are still saying that Nobu is the best Japanese restaurant. We have millions of guests who eat at our restaurants every year and enjoy our food. So, I’m very proud of how far we’ve come.

In the United States, you’ll find Nobu restaurants in New York, Malibu, Dallas, San Diego, Las Vegas Hard Rock, Las Vegas Caesars Palace, Los Angeles, Miami, Newport Beach, Honolulu and Lanai.

To locate Nobu locations abroad, go to noburestaurants.com.

Secret SUPPER CLUBS

UNDER GROUND

By Alona Abbady Martinez

Summer 2017 Opulence

35

As consumer culinary savvy grows throughout the United States, so does the demand for increasingly intriguing dining experiences. Take, for example, the growing allure of secret underground supper clubs – small dinner party gatherings at the home of someone you don’t know, with guests you’ve never met – which offer the mysterious speakeasy-type thrill of tasting a unique meal not available at a commercial restaurant and the exclusivity of word-of-mouth invitations. International Opulence has discovered what foodies claim are some of the best Secret Underground Supper Clubs across the country. But, shhhhh! Secrecy never tasted so good.

OAKLAND, CA – Sound & Savour Phillip Gelb’s book, “Notes from An Underground Restaurant” discusses his unique approach of combining music with a dinner party. Gelb, who is a musician and became a chef to supplement and then eventually replace his music career, explained via email what makes his Supper Club so special: “We use alternative spaces and supply gourmet cuisine in venues where it is not expected. Having a live concert adds incredibly to a food experience. We do not present background music so diners are not eating and talking over musicians performing in a corner acting like a piece of furniture. After the savory courses, we clear the tables and there is a concert with everyone listening. We follow the concert with dessert.”

NEW YORK CITY: 10 Chairs Patricia Williams is the founder and executive chef of this New York City hotspot. A former ballet dancer by training, Williams understood that design and hard work are easily transferred into the world of food. Such discipline and dedication has gained her two stars from The New York Times.

“Cooking is a process,” Chef Williams explained via email. “I begin at the market looking at what is provided by the farmers. I cook, serve and connect with my guests.”

Dishes have included medallions of sweetbreads with apple chutney, monkfish with corn chowder and peach handpie with ginger ice cream. Guests gather to share a meal as strangers and leave close friends.

CHICAGO: Sunday Dinner Club Chef Josh Kulp and Chef Christine Cikowski are the force behind Sunday Dinner Club.

“We decided to prepare 5 course dinners of seasonal fare in a home setting,” they explained via email. “We loved the connection we felt with the diners. Each night is a small group enjoying a beautiful meal, sipping wine, and relaxing in a casual dinner party setting.”

International Opulence asked what was the intrigue and success of underground supper clubs: “We love the grassroots spirit of underground restaurants. People seek them for a sense of adventure, but also for a unique dining experience. The people cooking for underground dinners are usually pretty passionate about what they are doing, that positive energy and excitement is felt by the diners.”

36

Opulence Summer 2017

These trendy, social dining experiences offer mystery and exclusivity on the menu, often operated out of private homes or closed restaurants, and advertised by word of mouth.

MIAMI – Saffron Supper Club Founded in 2013 by Sara Liss and Maude Eaton, this club’s goal is to teach people about little-known Persian cuisine.

Diners are treated to specialties such as Tahdig, a Persian rice with a golden crust that is incredibly difficult to prepare. A variation of this dish is included in each supper. “Diners and our regulars have come to know and love this dish and look forward to it,” Liss explained.

Saffron Supper Club prides itself in not just offering foodies an incredible meal with Persian flavors never tasted before, it is a cultural and mindful experience as well.

“We bring some cultural component to the events we do - whether it is reading poetry that relates to the dinner (Rumi and Hafez are our favorites) or delving into the history of a dish, we are always trying to answer the “why” of each dinner. Too many times these foodie dinners end up being about chefs flexing their muscles but our goal is less about the parade of food and more about the holistic experience of the diner.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Hush Supper Club This wildly successful supper club was started eight years ago by an Indian-American who wanted to share not only the varied and delicious food of her parent’s homeland but the stories as well.

“I’m a storyteller throughout,” Geeta, who doesn’t give her last name, explains. “The food is in the service of the story.”

Geeta, whose family is from Gujarat, practices Jainism, which also has a heavy influence on her vegetarian cuisine. “Jains have many rules about food. You express your religion every day with your dinner plate. India is on the move and I want to do my part for the Americans to get to know the Indians.”

Summer 2017 Opulence

37

Made By A House Of Friends For A World Of Friends

Longtime buds George Clooney and Rande Gerber turn their love for tequila-filled-nights into Casamigos

BY STEVEN JOSEPH

38

Opulence Summer 2017

The Casamigos Reposado Tequila is soft, slightly oaky with hints of caramel and cocoa and has a silky texture with a medium to long smooth finish.

Summer 2017 Opulence

39

Gerber and Clooney took their annual motorcycle trip and decided to visit the distillery in Jalisco. “We always love spending time with our team in Mexico drinking, laughing and telling stories,” said Gerber.

We owe great times to good friends…to the glasses that spark conversation…to the ideas that then pour out,” said nightlight entrepreneur Rande Gerber (husband of super model Cindy Crawford) about his tequilafilled nights with longtime friend actor George Clooney. “[Our idea for Casamigos] came from a night like that and, somehow, survived until the morning after. To make our own tequila, one we’d be proud to pass round, wasn’t meant to leave our house. But since we made this for friends, we thought it couldn’t hurt to make a few more batches.”

The Story of Casamigos Casamigos, colloquial Spanish for ‘House of Friends,’ is an ultra-premium tequila.

Gerber and Clooney fashioned three types of Casamigos Tequila – Blanco, Reposado and Anejo – each bottle as unique as the men who made it.

40

Opulence Summer 2017

The two friends first conceived Casamigos as a drink for themselves. “George and I were spending a lot of time in Mexico. And as you do when you’re in Mexico, we were drinking a lot of tequila….but we never found one that was perfect for us,” said Gerber. Tired of waking up with hangovers or having to cover the taste of tequila with salt and lime, Gerber contacted a distillery and started talking about flavor profiles. “We just started making bottles for ourselves to drink and everybody liked it so we felt that this might be something we should sell.” Gerber and Clooney decided to name their tequila after their homes in Mexico and dubbed it, ‘Casamigos.’

“Two years and 700 samples later, the tequila was perfect,” Rande said.

Gotta Agave Casamigos is produced in the highlands of the Jalisco region of Mexico from 100 percent Blue Weber agaves. “Our master distiller handpicks each agave, ensuring only the best are used for Casamigos,” boasted Gerber.

After the pinas are roasted for three days, they undergo an 80-hour fermentation process, where most traditional tequilas only have an average of 48. This creates a unique flavor distinct to Casamigos. “We preferred to put our money into what is inside the bottle as opposed to the actual bottle because Casamigos is brought to you by those who drink it,” Rande explained.

The two amigos pride themselves on doing things their own way. “We don’t follow any rules or look at other brands, we do everything in-house,” said Gerber. The Casamigos Reposado even boasts an oaky flavor and smooth profile that it attains through its resting process in reconditioned old American white oak barrels that once housed fine whiskey. “The minute we got those samples, we knew it was perfect” said Clooney.

Rolling Up Our Sleeves Despite being a Hollywood mega-star and an entertainment business mogul,

Clooney and Gerber maintain an active role in Casamigos. “It’s a big part of our life and lifestyle. It just flows naturally into our everyday life and definitively adds to the good times and great memories,” Gerber said. He insists that nothing goes into a bottle until he and George have tasted it first.

“Each batch is signed off by George and me and then the bottles are numbered.”

After all of their accomplishments in other fields, Casamigos still holds a very special place in George’s and Rande’s hearts.

“The day we received bottle number 700, George and I drank the entire bottle with a smile. That was just the beginning of what turned into the greatest job of my life,” Rande remembered.

Clooney, perhaps best known for playing Dr. Doug Ross on TV’s ER and suave conman Danny Ocean in the Ocean’s Trilogy, wasn’t even always a tequila drinker. “We used to drink a lot of vodka. Then we sort of got to a point where we were spending a lot of time in Mexico and you really are just drinking tequila down there,” said Clooney.

Road Trip To Jalisco Recently, Gerber and Clooney took their annual motorcycle trip and decided to visit the distillery in Jalisco. “We always love spending time with our team in Mexico drinking, laughing and telling stories,” said Gerber. He believes the future can only get better for the young spirit. “Experts agree Casamigos is the best tasting tequila in the world; the awards and accolades we’ve been receiving…say it all.”

“Experts agree Casamigos is the best tasting tequila in the world; the awards and accolades we’ve been receiving … say it all.”

As for the best way to enjoy their tequila, Gerber prefers his neat or on the rocks. “It mixes well with anything, but Casamigos is so refined and smooth, we prefer to sip it all night long.” Clooney insists there’s no right or wrong way to drink Casamigos, either.

“On the rocks, by the shot, at times straight from the bottle. Tequila-filled nights with friends is how Casamigos was born.”

Summer 2017 Opulence

41

Opulence SPRING Launch Party Celebrating the spring issue launch of International Opulence magazine on Friday, March 24th, VIP guests enjoyed a rare opportunity to rub elbows with Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Three-Michelin-Star/James Beard-Award-winning Chef Curtis Duffy of Grace, along with co-host Alex Becker, Executive Chef of Kuro Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Hollywood, FL. Guests enjoyed award-winning gastronomic creations, had an exclusive opportunity for Chef Curtis Duffy to autograph a copy of the magazine, and had a chance to preview the finest haute horology timepieces presented by Eleven James while enjoying Gurkha Cigars.

42

Opulence Summer 2017

Summer 2017 Opulence

43

SYMBIOTIC ART IN THE LANDSCAPE

truly

CHIHULY

BY MARY & HUGH WILLIAMSON

American Glass Sculptor Dale Chihuly Enchants Tourists in New York and Around the World 44

Opulence Summer 2017

a

rtist, designer and glassblower Dale Chihuly’s work has celebrated a symbiotic merger of art and life around the world for decades. Readers have likely enjoyed his thrilling exhibitions such as those at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California (pictured left) and the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg (see page 47), and now at the spectacular Exposition entitled simply “Chihuly”, at the New York Botanical Garden. Mr. Chihuly’s glass garden elements enhance what nature offers. His art, along with nature, meld perfectly into a true delight. Drawings are part of the exhibition as well, and offer a glimpse into the inspiration of the artist.

A Little History There has long been a grand debate: Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? Plato, Aristotle and even Oscar Wilde all weighed in with passion. Vincent van Gogh and esteemed American artist Robert Rauschenberg had a lot to say about it, as well. Does it matter? Probably not to artist Chihuly, and not likely to matter to those privileged to immerse themselves in the cheerful combination of fantasy and “real life.”

“Lying, the telling of beautiful untrue things, is the proper aim of Art.” — Oscar Wilde’s Essay “The Decay of Lying” 1891 “Art partly completes what nature cannot bring to a finish, and partly imitates her.”

— Aristotle, Physics 350 BCE

Macchia Forest, 2017, The New York Botanical Garden

Dale Chihuly

It is clear that Seattle-based Chihuly has his own take!

A Triumphant Return to NEW YORK CITY In numerous interviews, Dale Chihuly has consistently shared thoughts that his work “revolves around a simple set of circumstances: fire, molten glass, human breath, spontaneity, centrifugal force, gravity.” That combination continues to impact the art world, and surely will impact the fortunate visitors to this decade-long wait for Chihuly’s return to the New York Botanical Garden.

The backdrop of the classic and beautiful buildings at the New York Botanical Garden with all their luxuriant foliage and sparkling water features provides the perfect complement to the incredible color, shimmer, shine and glamour of the Chihuly glass environmental art extravaganza. This lauded event featuring his work opened on April 22, a full decade after his first feted 2006 event.

Visitors can be enchanted with this display through October 29, 2017, as the seasonal changes keep it fresh and ever-changing through the coming months. And as daylight wanes, Chihuly Nights will afford the visitor even more thrilling appeal with his illumination-enhanced glass designs. These offer a nod to nature, rather than suggesting its improvement or replacement. His works have been likened to theme-park settings, but the results are breathtaking; perhaps the best of both art and life.

Exhibition Highlights Favorites of the New York Exhibition include the massive “Seaforms” set within a classical columned stage, reminiscent of Poseidon’s mythical dwellings. It is stark, but organic and rather seductive, while sited alone on what feels like an ocean floor. The presentation is very compelling.

Another favorite, “Macchia Forest” includes signature Chihuly forms that in this instance suggest wild, overgrown blooms.

Chihuly’s Macchia Series has evolved from his first study in 1981, the moniker being derived from the word for “spot” in Italian.

Each work being “spotted” with color, the outcome is achieved by rolling the molten glass in shards of colored glass as the piece is formed in an intricate process. Now, mounted on structural elements that are evocative of stems, the work is a symbiotic presentation alongside live foliage.

Photo left: Chihuly Installation, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA Summer 2017 Opulence

45

White Tower with Fiori, 2017, The New York Botanical Garden

Mary and Hugh Williamson

Mary and Hugh Williamson, now residing in Bluffton, South Carolina, spent decades in New York City enjoying time with friends and family at the incredible resources of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, including the New York Botanical Garden.

Red Reeds on Logs, 2017, The New York Botanical Garden

46

Opulence Summer 2017

Can’t get to New York This Summer?

Another Chihuly Venue May Be Nearby

One added benefit of Chihuly’s glass-garden works: They don’t wilt.

This glorious display (left) will be available to enjoy through October 29, 2017.

If your summer travels don’t bring you to New York, you may find there’s a Chihuly exhibit near your intended destination – both in the United States or abroad. Traveling to the Sunshine State, consider stopping by the permanent Chihuly exhibit at the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, the museum of which is celebrating its 100th birthday. Be sure to check out the stunning boat and globes shown below.

Over the years, the artist has created a number of memorable installations including “Chihuly Over Venice” with the sculptures installed over the canals and piazze; “Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem”, attended by more than one million visitors, and the “Chihuly Bridge of Glass” in Tacoma, Washington.

To find a location near you, go to www.chihuly.com.

Boat and Globes, Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL

Summer 2017 Opulence

47

DESIGN & Conquer Master Interior Designer Perla Lichi conquers a space problem with a functional art room divider

By Patrice Janel Photography: Craig Denis, Miami

48

Opulence Summer 2017

“Divide and rule, the politician cries; Unite and lead, is watchword of the wise.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The strategy of division and rule or “divide and conquer” has been attributed to sovereigns ranging from Louis XI to the Habsburgs.

The maxim “divida et impera” has been attributed to Philip II of Macedon, and the theory was certainly utilized by the Roman ruler Caesar and the French emperor Napoleon. The more things change, as the French say, the more they stay the same.

Master interior designer Perla Lichi put this age-old theory to good use recently to solve a common space problem that often occurs in today’s open-plan interiors. You might say that she used the division strategy to conquer a difficult space problem.

Cool Respite for Hot Miami Days Perla and I are standing in the living room of a recently designed South Florida townhome, the vacation home of a South American couple. It has a fresh Miami look that provides cool respite throughout the year, but especially on those sweltering South Florida days and nights. A white background is accented with furniture and accessories in today’s popular peacock colors of chartreuse and aqua.

The designer has also used some of her “mirror tricks” including a wall-size mirror in the living room to make the relatively small space appear to be much larger than it actually is. White lacquer applied moldings frame mirror and wallpaper inserts, giving the room a more spacious feeling.

“Before we did these interiors, you would open that front door and look right straight across to the refrigerator! It was definitely not the effect we wanted.”

Design and Conquer “Our solution was a custom room divider designed specifically for the space, with a white cabinet base for storage and a framed, etched glass top centered above. A piece of art when viewed from any direction, it doesn’t completely block the view from either side.

This ‘functional art’ does successfully obfuscate the direct view of the kitchen from the front entrance, making the sense of arrival much more visually appealing. And, while it has this aesthetic advantage, it serves another function by defining an eat-in dining area in the kitchen. Without adding a wall, we created two rooms out of one.”

The all-white contemporary kitchen with stainless appliances features an island bar centered beneath three contemporary pendant Summer 2017 Opulence

49

lamps. In addition to recessed ceiling lighting, a contemporary track light follows the contour of the dining table. A mirror on the kitchen wall makes the space look about three times as large as it actually is.

Why Divide?

Perla volunteers more information about room dividers. “They come in many shapes and sizes. Some have a very specific function such as those positioned for privacy.

When there is no actual foyer, a custom divider – be it a built-in cabinet or an open shelf or even a piece of furniture – can help define the entryway to any home, large or small. Most dividers provide both privacy and a beautiful look, giving shape and structure to an otherwise wide open area.

Dividers come in custom shapes, colors, sizes and can be created from any material you can imagine – from decorative metal shapes to wooden barn doors to etched glass or acrylic – anything, really, that you can imagine that blends well with your décor style.

“With this great built-in flexibility, the possibilities for room dividers are endless,” says Perla, whose own personality is often described as larger than life. “Dividers are a really great way to add personality to any room.”

Learn more about Perla Lichi online at www.perlalichi.com

Top left: View from kitchen dining table into living room.

Bottom left: Before the art divider was added, the view from the front door (at right in the photo) was straight into the kitchen.

Facing page: Track lighting follows the contours of the dining table.

50

Opulence Summer 2017

Summer 2017 Opulence

51

A Kaleidoscope of BEJeweled Eye Candy

An exclusive interview with Australian designer Colin Heaney

o

BY ROBIN JAY

n the easternmost point of mainland Australia lies Byron Bay, a small beachside town celebrated as the capital of Aussie-land’s relaxed ‘haute bo-ho’ lifestyle capital.

Any given morning, you may catch a glimpse of resident Colin Heaney as he paddles out on his surfboard to catch a wave. And on any given night, you may see him in the vibe at one of the town’s many dance parties. What you may not have guessed is that in between dawn and dusk, Colin returns to his home-based art studio and becomes engrossed in transforming photographs of nature into unrecognizable, vibrant, pixel-perfect designs that he’ll then transfer to luxurious silk fabric before scurrying off to his cutting room to create a custom pattern for a stunning handsewn kaftan or yoga ensemble.

Even more remarkable is that Colin Heaney started his career not in fabrics, but in glass – and then fine china. All the while, his unique – and now iconic – style is uncannily recognizable across all his platforms.

52

Opulence Summer 2017

Left and Top Right: Examples of Colin Heaneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handmade silk kaftans.

Bottom: An example from his Art of Phoenix yoga clothing line.

Summer 2017 Opulence

53

“The fact that my work is recognizable in different mediums surprised me! When I switched from glass to fabric, I had random people tell me that they saw some clothes that looked like my glass – without knowing it was my work,” said Heaney, who was born in Vancouver, Canada, moved to Pomona, California, at age 8, and then at 18 left for a surf trip to the Pacific that landed him in Australia in 1968. He fell in love with the uncrowded surf and the laid-back community and decided to call Byron Bay home. Heaney has been honing his remarkable creativity ever since.

THE UNEXPECTED Artisan “When I was young, I had no idea what I would end up doing, but it was not art!” Heaney said with a chuckle. “My mother was very creative, but no one ever mentioned the possibility of making your living from art. When I arrived in Australia, my world opened up. One of my friends taught me leatherwork, and I discovered I could make my living from creative craftsmanship. I have made candles, furniture, surfboards and then launched into glass when I was 34. Glass it is a magic material. It is worked as both a liquid and a solid, and when it is liquid, it requires absolute awareness at all times. It is like a meditation that goes on all day.” Heaney worked in glass for 25 years and had gallery exhibitions in Australia, Europe, Japan and the United States. And then, out of the blue, Heaney started entertaining a new medium.

The Move to Fashion “One morning, I woke up early with nothing to do, so thought I would try to use Photoshop to make an invitation

54

Opulence Summer 2017

for a dance party,” Heaney recalled. “I started playing with a photograph of my bedroom, and the next thing I knew it was 11 p.m.

When I woke the next day, I couldn’t wait to continue my exploration. Over the next months, I would do glass by day and use every extra available moment to work in Photoshop. I researched and found I could do digital printing on fabric. It was appealing to print on something that is both three dimensional and animated. Learning about the fashion world was challenging, and discovering the tricks of the trade by trial and error was, in retrospect, crazy!”

Heaney looks at colors in nature and sees the harmony.

“Colors have a very clear effect on my nervous system; they can relax or excite me. When I am designing, I create without a plan and let the feelings the colors induce be my guide. I suppose I am looking for beauty as I create,” he said. “The process is more ‘joytaking’ than painstaking. I enjoy making silk kaftans because they make women look and feel like a goddess. I have had many women cry when putting one on, they feel nurtured, centered and beautiful.”

Casa Blu What’s Heaney’s most treasured accomplishment? His answer might surprise you. “My favorite accomplishment is the house I designed and built called ‘Casa Blu.’ I worked on the finishes, all the curves, the textures, mosaics and painting. All of the bathroom taps and basins were made by me in glass.

I worked with many friends who are artists and craftspeople to make Casa Blu truly unique. Together we made sculptured bathtubs, vanities and furniture. Some day I may return to glass, but for now I am concentrating on my ‘Art of Luxury’ kaftans and my “Art of Phoenix” yoga line. I would one day love to design a boutique hotel. Anyone interested?”

View more Colin Heaney silk kaftans at colinheaney.com or his yoga apparel line at artofphoenix.com.au.

Summer 2017 Opulence

55

Best New Spa: Acqualina, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida

2017 INTERNATIONAL

SPA GUIDE 56

Opulence Summer 2017

2017 Top Spa Guide Ahhhh…summer is here! It’s time to slow things down a bit and focus on yourself.

What better place to rejuvenate, replenish and renourish than in an exquisite spa?

International Opulence has gathered the best of the best in the country and around the world to indulge in a little well-deserved ME time:

FLORIDA Acqualina Spa: Spa with the Best Luxury Suite 17875 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 • 305-918-8000

Exclusive amenities include a private steam room made of mother-of-pearl and a rainforest shower for two. Treatment beds are covered in deep blue and cream to emulate the Atlantic Ocean right outside, while the adjacent wall features gold-dusted mosaic tiles to ensure supreme relaxation.

◆ Mandarin Oriental: Most Opulent Facial 500 Brickell Key Dr, Miami, FL 33131 • 305-913-8288

Settle in the luxurious spa suite with breathtaking ocean views for two hours of bliss that includes: preparing and cleansing the skin, exfoliation, steam and extractions if needed, scalp massage, exfoliation and massage of arms and legs, facial massage, mask and eye treatment.

Boca Raton Resort & Club: Best European Bath and Water Experience 501 E Camino Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432 • 561-447-3000

Relax in the famed Ritual Bath of this Alhambrainspired spa which offers nine individual mineral baths, waterfall showers, whirlpool, steam, sauna and inhalation rooms.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa Orlando, Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida: Best Body Scrub 4012 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32837 • 407-393-4200

Mixologists will personalize a blend for you at The Scrub Bar using essential oils and fresh herbs from the rooftop garden.

◆ Eau Spa Palm Beach: Best Salt Scrub Room/ Best Chromotherapy 100 S Ocean Blvd, Manalapan, FL 33462 • 561-540-4960

Like a candy shoppe for adults, the scrub and polish bar allows guests to choose from the colorful salt and potpourri scrub mixes.

Guided by the spa’s credo of “Pause, Play, and Perfect”, treatment rooms are individually tailored to guests’ needs with chromotherapy, or color therapy where therapists can change the color of the lighting.

CHICAGO The Spa at the JW Chicago: Best Therapeutic Deep Tissue Massage 151 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603 • 312-660-8250

Working out knots and kinks may hurt a bit, but will leave you feeling better.

◆ Ruby Room: Best Energy-Healing 1743-45 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622 • 773-235-2323

In the heart of Chicago’s trendy Wicker Park, this award-winning spa offers a 90-minute Intuitive Blend including a photo of your aura, 30-minute intuitive reading and 60-minute energy healing to bring life back into focus and release stress.

Summer 2017

OPULENCE

57

2017 Top Spa Guide Cowshed Spa at Soho House Chicago: Most Indulgent Pedicure 113 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607 • 312-754-6915

Farmhouse meets luxury at this chic spot decked with plush leather armchairs, individual televisions, and freshly-brewed tea in proper teapots. Prepare for a delightful foot and leg massage, followed by moisturizing wrap and scalp and shoulder massage.

◆ Waldorf Astoria Chicago Spa & Health Club Chicago: Best Urban Detox 11 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611 • 312-646-1310

Escape the hustle of the city in this haven of relaxation. Guests can swim laps in the mosaic-tiled pool, hang in the whirlpool tub, detox in the eucalyptus steam room or enjoy a shiatsu massage where the therapist delivers deep-tissue pressure using his or her bare feet.

◆ The Spa at Four Seasons: Best Full Body Microdermabrasion 120 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611 • 312-280-8800

NEW YORK The Guerlain Spa at The Plaza Hotel: Best Massage 1 W 58th St, New York, NY 10019 • 212-872-7200

Double the pleasure and relaxation of Guerlain’s signature massage under the expertise of four hands.

◆ Aire Ancient Baths: Best Red Wine Experience 88 Franklin St, New York, NY 10013 • 646-878-6174

The Red Wine Experience allows you to indulge in the antioxidant properties of grapes by soaking in an antique thermal tub filled with Ribera del Duero tempranillo.

◆ The Mandarin Oriental: Best Gentlemen’s Spa The Shops at Columbus Circle, 80 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10023 • 212-805-8800

Offering a half day retreat specifically for men that includes a body scrub, therapeutic massage and facial.

Old world tradition meets modern technology with the signature Crystal-Clear Scrub combining sea salt, sugar, and magnesium oxide crystals to give you a full-body microdermabrasion.

58

Opulence Summer 2017

The Peninsula Spa: Best Eastern Therapy 700 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019 • 212-903-3910

Based on the Indian tradition of balancing your personality type, or dosha, the Podi Signature Journey uses dried herb powders wrapped in muslin bolus bags, dipped in warm oil and applied over the entire body.

◆ Trump Spa: Best Foot Massage 1 Central Park West, New York, NY 10023 • 212-299-1097

This midtown location offers The Sole Soother, a deluxe foot massage that includes an invigorating scrub, paraffin wrap, neck massage, and an energizing foot massage.

CALIFORNIA Spa Montage, Beverly Hills: Best Anti-Aging Facial 225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 • 310-860-7840

Offering ultra-premium Swiss skincare brand L. Raphael which specializes in antiaging oxygen facials, the only spa offering such a treatment on the West Coast.

2017 Top Spa Guide The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village: Best Holistic Health 2 Dole Dr, Westlake Village, CA 91362 • 818-575-3000

Four Seasons is home to the California Health & Longevity Institute, granting you access to acupuncture, postural assessments, metabolic testing, and more.

◆ Cal-A-Vie Health Spa Vista: Best Fitness 29402 Spa Havens Way, Vista, CA 92084 • 760-945-2055

This Provençal-inspired retreat set in the canyons of Vista offers more than 100 fitness classes, guaranteeing you’ll leave a few pounds lighter.

◆

WASHINGTON DC The Petite Spa at The Jefferson: Best Aromatherapy Massage 1200 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036 • 202-448-2300

This signature massage uses organic plant and flower essences to restore harmony to mind, body, and spirit.

◆ The Spa at The Four Seasons: Best Jacuzzi, Steam Room & Sauna 2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 • 202-342-0444

A great getaway after any treatment, the lounge, sauna, indoor Jacuzzi or eucalyptus-scented steam room beckon complete relaxation.

◆

Ciel Spa at SLS Hotel: Best Food 465 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048 • 310-247-0400

Bliss Spa: Best Hot Milk Pedicure W Washington D.C., 515 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20004 • 202-661-2416

This white-on-white Philippe Starck-designed haven has it all for those looking to relax, but the scrumptious spa food prepared by famed chef José Andrés will most definitely have you coming back.

This upbeat spa with jazzy tunes will leave you and your feet happy after indulging in their signature Hot Milk and Almond Pedicure.

Lorien Spa at the Kimpton Hotel (Alexandria, VA): Best Quickie Massage 1600 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314 • 703-894-3434

Lorien offers “Quick Pick-Me-Ups” services for those in a rush. Choose a massage, facial, or foot scrub that will have you restored in under half an hour.

INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS: Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle Spa, Chiang Rai, Thailand: Best Surroundings Chiang Saen Post Office, Chiang Rai 57150, Thailand • +66 53 910 200

Guests are pampered with traditional body, face, hand and foot treatments in the middle of the region’s beautiful bamboo forests.

◆ La Reserve, Ramatuelle, France: Best Anti-Aging Treatments Chemin de la Quessine, 83350 Ramatuelle, France • +33 4 94 44 94 44

In one of the prettiest villages on the Riviera, this award-winning spa’s anti-aging therapies (the non-invasive variety) are prominent on the menu.

Summer 2017 Opulence

59

14 T o u r i s m T r e n d s i n 2 0 1 7

14

BY Kristen Mager

Scintillating

Travel Trends to Track in 2017

It’s a mobile and agile travel market these days. To stay on course, brands must be tech-savvy, quick, and creative—without sacrificing old-fashioned chivalry.

“In an age of digital overload, simple human spaces, great service, and great food and drink will be even more relevant,” said Rafat Ali, founder and CEO of Skift, a travel research company that released the latest trends for 2017 and beyond. “The travel and hospitality industry can be a huge beneficiary of where the world is culturally right now. And it should double down.”

Keep your sight on these 14 travel trends:

1

HUMANITY RETURNS TO TRAVEL IN AN AGE OF DIGITAL OVERLOAD

Travelers have the world at their fingertips, literally. But long after the bags are unpacked and photos downloaded, modern voyagers will remember this: how brands made them feel.

“Hospitality is all about the very human trait of empathy,” said Ali. “And businesses need to remember that humans should remain front and center to create incredible experiences, helped — but in no way supplanted—by modern technology.”

4

FESTIVALIZATION OF MEETINGS & EVENTS

What do Coachella or Bonnaroo have to do with corporate travel? They intersect real- and work-life experiences. Take your business event outdoors in a hot town to drum up the crowd.

5

THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE MODERN FEMALE TRAVELER

Women rule when it comes to buying decisions and online sales. Pitch your campaigns to the female traveler to take off in this market. And look for more female leadership in travel companies in 2017.

60

OPULENCE Summer 2017

2

DIGITAL PLATFORM DISRUPTION IS HERE TO STAY Get social or sit on the tarmac. Today’s hospitality brands must cross the traditional communications line and get the word out through social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.

3

DINING OUT IS THE MAIN EVENT Gastropubs and hip restaurant concept make for picture-perfect social media experiences. Your eclectic menu and wacky chandeliers are just a post away from Instagram likes and new followers.

6

LOW-COST CARRIERS REINVEST THE TRANSATLANTIC MARKET

Expect to see more bare-bones airlines offering sweet deals to cross the Pond.

Then, watch as legacy carriers respond with competitive offers of their own.

14 T o u r i s m T r e n d s i n 2 0 1 7

7

THE FIFTIES ARE THE NEW TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC FOR TRAVEL BRANDS

Sandwiched between Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, the Fifties are an audience to pay attention to. Nielsen estimates that in 2017, nearly half of the U.S. adult population will be age 50 plus and control most of the country’s disposable income. They’re tech savvy, too.

8

OVERTOURISM GOES MAINSTREAM, DESTINATIONS GET SMARTER ABOUT SOLVING IT Tourists continue to saturate hot spots like Manhattan and Barcelona, where overbooking is their middle name. Smart travel companies are getting creative and promoting off-the-beatenpath neighborhoods for sleeping quarters.

9

A YEAR OF RECKONING FOR EUROPE, THE WORLD’S BIGGEST TOURISM DESTINATION Europe still dominates the world’s tourism market, but its slice of the pie is shrinking. Travelers are booking elsewhere, due to recent terrorist acts, the Brexit vote and upcoming elections. Don’t be surprised to the wanderlust who soul search elsewhere this year.

Size doesn’t matter when it comes to luxury.

It’s about the personal journey, the experience, and creating memorable stories.

12

11

CRUISE LINES PLAY THE LONG GAME WITH NEW MARKETS & NEW AUDIENCES Insiders predict China will one day have the largest cruise market, and cruise giants will sail into the industry with new ships in the next few years. By 2020, according to the Morningstar forecast, the number of cruise passengers in China may reach 4.3 million, up from roughly a million in 2015.

13

10

THE NEW LUXURY IS DEFINED BY SMALL BRANDS WITH BIG STORIES

Tours & Activities Are Finally Coming Into their own

Consumers want to book their own tours and activities on demand and with ease. Pitching the right promo at the right time is critical in capturing their attention.

Want to learn more?

Visit skift.com to view the full report.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN TRAVEL IS FINALLY BECOMING REALITY Travel and hospitality companies are catching up with Google and embedding artificial intelligence technology in their online booking processes. Look for more labels to latch onto this trend in 2017.

14

CORPORATE TRAVEL TECH IS IN UPHEAVAL Business folks are booking their own trips on mobile devices so they expect solid booking tools. Brands centered on improving their traveler-facing technology will have the upper hand here.

Summer 2017

OPULENCE

61

U.S. Dept. of State

Preparing For The Unexpected While Traveling Overseas

By Karen Christensen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Overseas Citizens Services at the U.S. Department of State

l

iving in four foreign countries by the time I was 18 years old definitely influenced my choice to become a U.S. diplomat. There’s still nothing quite like traveling to a new country to experience a different language, fascinating culture, and exotic foods. But having helped countless Americans overseas throughout 32 years as a consular officer, I’ve learned the value of being prepared before a trip.

Handy Tools What can you do to prepare for the unexpected while traveling overseas? Follow our Traveler’s Checklist (travel.state.gov/travelerschecklist) and read up on your destination, its entry and exit requirements, laws, health conditions, and any Travel Warnings or Travel Alerts currently in effect. Pay close attention to our safety and security information to decide if traveling there is right for you.

If you’re taking a cruise, check out

travel.state.gov/cruise. And don’t forget your medications!

Documents Next, make sure you have the right documents. Get a passport early! We’re issuing a record number of passports in 2017, so make sure you apply at least three months before you travel. Allow more time if you need foreign visas. Already have a passport?

Make sure it will be valid at least six months after you return home and that it has at least two blank pages (and maybe more depending on your destination). Traveling with children under age 16? Check their passport expiration dates closely – passports for minors are only valid for five years.

If you’re traveling alone with children, some countries require custody documents or notarized consent from the other parent.

Get Connected Another thing to do before you go abroad is sign up for our free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP.state.gov) to get up-to-

date safety and security messages and to help us reach you in case of an emergency while you’re overseas. You can also connect with us: @TravelGov, on Twitter and Facebook.

HeaLthcare Abroad Finally – prepare for the unexpected by having insurance coverage for medical expenses, emergency evacuation, flight delays/cancellations, etc. Medicare and many U.S. healthcare policies do not provide coverage abroad. Foreign medical providers often require cash up front, and a medical evacuation back to the States can cost $100,000 or more.

Even with good planning, you can find yourself in the middle of a natural disaster or political unrest. Read What Can You Do in a Crisis Abroad? Be aware of your surroundings and have an exit plan wherever you go. In the event of an emergency, follow instructions from local authorities, monitor local media, and let your family know if you are okay.

Careful planning and research can help you avoid most problems overseas, but U.S. consular officers are available worldwide to help in case of an emergency. If you need help, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (contact info at usembassy.gov).

Whether you’re an experienced or first-time traveler – from the East Coast, West Coast, or America’s heartland – I hope you’ll visit our website, travel.state.gov, and make a plan for exploring this great world of ours.

Safe travels!

62

Opulence Summer 2017

P h oto g rap h in g

Happiness in THE Land of Thunder Dragon Pennsylvania-based photographer Frank T. Smith commemorates his intriguing travels to Bhutan

By John D. Adams

Summer 2017 Opulence

63

P

oland. Germany. Haiti. South Sudan. Atacama. India. Photojournalist and Olympus Trailblazer Frank T. Smith’s passport collection must resemble an international card game of “choose your own adventure.”

Only his adventures are all about real-life, and lifelong, passion. Armed primarily with a camera and a wide, open smile, Smith has photographed a planet-full of locales and the people who reside in them. Here, Smith shares his excursion to the mysterious Kingdom of Bhutan.

The real Shangri-La? Crouching between the monumental slopes of the Himalayas, The Kingdom of Bhutan could rightfully be considered the shy brother of his more well-known siblings: China, India and Nepal. Remote by any standard, in all of its centuries Bhutan has never been colonized by another country. So perhaps one could be forgiven for romanticizing Bhutan as the fabled land of Shangri-La popularized by James Hilton’s 1933 novel, “The Lost Horizon.” The two lands bear a number of striking similarities. Most notably, an unusually high “Gross National Happiness” quotient. A concept created by the country itself, to the point of being included in Bhutan’s 2008 constitution.

A dedicated trailblazer After journeying literally thousands of miles crisscrossing the globe on assignment for Olympus, on trips for pleasure, or lending his talents as a philanthropic photojournalist, Frank Smith’s enthusiasm never seems to wane. “Olympus Visionaries are established, award-winning professional photographers who travel the world with Olympus products to capture life’s beauty and splendor,” remarked Smith. “And as a philanthropic photojournalist, I’ve been fortunate to work for a lot of international non-profit organizations. That has certainly helped me get to a lot of crazy parts of the world that I would not have otherwise gotten to.”

Today, Smith’s enthusiasm, talent, and dedication to his craft helped him become an Olympus Trailblazer. He is one of just 12 photographers in the Northern Hemisphere that the venerable camera company has asked to test, critique, work64

Opulence Summer 2017

shop, and discuss photographic equipment. The elite members of the program include several Pulitzer Prize–winning photographers, as well as artists whose careers have included assignments around the globe.

Beautiful Bhutan and beyond Arguably one of Smith’s most far-flung adventures led him, along with seven photographer friends, to visit the remote country of Bhutan. “We went to Bhutan from Calcutta, which was tricky because they allow a limited number of people into the country.” Smith’s images depict a serene, vibrant country peopled with open faces and generous spirits.

“I wanted to show things that I felt were representative of the country and that would try to give a good depiction of the diversity and types of people we encountered.”

One of Smith’s greatest challenges was trying to photograph some of the country’s teeming population of Buddhist monks. No. Not for any theological reason. Remarkably, Smith couldn’t seem to capture a moment when the monks weren’t using their cell phones! Even in a country as isolated as Bhutan, 21st century situations still exist.

“It was crazy! But fortunately the more remote we ventured into the country the less technology we encountered.

{ Arguably one of Smith’s most farflung adventures led him, along with seven photographer friends, to visit the remote country of Bhutan.

Above: A view of the Dzong from the interior Left: Prayer time with instruments.

{ Summer 2017 Opulence

65

Mountain morning mist

“The colors in Bhutan were absolutely unbelievable. Just a vibrant, colorful country,” reflected Smith. When asked about his ability to share in some of the people’s most intimate rituals, Smith offered: “I try to be very friendly. The international sign is a big smile; I have a great attitude, which has literally opened many doors for me. A lot of my photographs from Bhutan were people who invited me into their homes when they were doing prayers with family and friends and playing various instruments. I’d politely ask if I could photograph them and in every case they all said ‘yes.’ It was an amazing experience to have that chance to not only photograph, but be a part of these very intimate rituals. If I hadn’t been a photographer, I never would have had these opportunities.”

See more of Frank T. Smith’s work at: www.franksmithphotos.com

Bhutanese bridge with prayer flags

Frank T. Smith 66

Opulence Summer 2017

Mechanical Competence Mechanical CompetenceManufacture Ladies Model Marine Chronometer Manufacture Model Marinemovement Chronometer Manufacture Ladies Self-winding Manufacture movement Self-winding

U LY S S E - N A R D I N . C O M n bI TuZlE, R M P a4r1i s3,2 S9t3-0P 7e4t e0r0s b– uI rNgF ,O @B Ue Li rYuS tS ,E -DNuA bR aD iI ,N . C H U L Y SNS eE wN AYo R DrIkN, SCAa–r l Cs Hb -a2d4 ,0 0G LeEn LeOv CaL, E I –s t Sa W L AoNsDc o– wT ,. +

A l m a t y , B e i j i n g , B i s h k e k , U l a a n b a a t a r , K u a l a L u m p u r , S i n g a p o r e , Ta i p e i .

LAVISH POP-UP LODGING

The Pop-Up Hotel

If you love the allure of pop-up restaurants, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll adore the exotic pop-up hotel concept that lets you choose the locale, interior dĂŠcor, amenities and a whole lot more.

By Kelly Villasuso

68

Opulence Summer 2017

I

magine a luxurious, fully-appointed canvas tent that harkens back to scenes from Out of Africa and makes you feel like an impassioned young Meryl Streep or a dapper Robert Redford.

Now picture such a luxurious tent popping up on the fringes of the grounds of your favorite music festival, giving you unprecedented access and deluxe hotel amenities.

Imagine a ginormous truck wheeling up near the site of a major sporting event, depositing temperature-controlled shipping containers ready to be transformed into gold-medal-worthy accommodations in the blink of an eye, right in the thick of the action. Imagine lunar-like bubbles popping up on the wide-open plains of the Bolivian

Altiplano, created especially for your onetime stay. Imagine a pop-up hotel.

What’s a pop-up hotel?

A pop-up hotel is a type of accommodations set up to host guests for a temporary period in a location usually off-limits to traditional hotels. The pop-up hotel is the younger sibling of the pop-up restaurant, which gained popularity in the early 2000s and has grown into a larger-scope movement of customized luxury hospitality experiences, including gourmet-themed interactive meals and unique excursions, as well as bespoke pop-up luxury lodging.

Why has the pop-up hotel trend resonated with affluent travelers? According to pop-

up hotel pioneer Mark Sorrill, founder of The Pop-Up Hotel in the United Kingdom, “As a society, we are increasingly focused on discovering truly authentic, worthwhile, satisfying and exciting experiences. Our hotel helps to deliver that experience by allowing guests to immerse themselves in the event 24 hours a day and ‘not lose the magic’ by transiting to remote locations for more traditional accommodations.”

Opulent Pop-up Purveyors In addition to the Pop-Up Hotel brand, companies like Blink by Black Tomato — winner of the Best Innovation in Travel award at the 2017 Globe Travel Awards — are pushing the pop-up boundaries even further, offering affluent travelers the opportunity to design their own transient accommodations and experiences in virgin locales.

PHOTO: Stacphane Gautronneau

Mughal Tenthouse at night

Raj Tenthouse Suite, The Pop-Up Hotel Summer 2017 Opulence

69

The Yurt, The Pop-Up Hotel

70

Opulence Summer 2017

Blink by Black Tomato’s Dome Tents, Uyani Salt Flats in Bolivia

PHOTO LATITUDE PHOTOGRAPHY

Learn more about this ever-evolving pop-up hotel trend by visiting the websites for The Pop-Up Hotel and Blink by Black Tomato or simply peruse the breathtaking photos of their respective accommodations provided here, including The Pop-Up Hotel’s luxury yurt, its glamorous Raj Tenthouse Suite, and the Mughal Tenthouse at night, and the breathtaking exterior shot of Blink’s Dome Tents on the Uyani Salt Flats, Bolivia. www.thepopuphotel.com, www.blacktomato.com/blink

Pop-Up Hotel Suite Interior Summer 2017 Opulence

71

T

he mindset of many of today’s travelers — from millennials to baby boomers alike — has been shifting in recent years. No longer are we content asking, “What beach can we go to next to relax.” Instead, we are asking, “What experiences do we want to participate in and who can best deliver them in a fashion that fulfills our wanderlust and nurtures our mind and soul, all while minimizing the environmental impact of our visit?” This paradigm shift to a sustainable, experiential travel mindset has been serendipitous for one tiny but growing travel trend: Apitourism or bee tourism.

Bee-hind the Trend Why the buzz around bee tourism? In 2016, the United Nations (UN) released a sponsored report stating that 75 percent of our food crops are dependent 72

Opulence Summer 2017

Apitourism – The

Bee’s Knees in Travel

By Kelly Villasuso

upon the invertebrate pollinator species (a.k.a., bees and butterflies), 40 percent of which are now facing extinction — and the world took notice. For example, in 2016, the United States placed eight types of bees on the endangered species list for the first time in history; in France, lawmakers approved plans to totally ban some widely used pesticides blamed for harming bees; and in Slovenia, they have protected its native bee, the Carniolan bee — the only European Union Member State to do so to date. These are but a few among myriad examples of probee measures throughout the world.

A Hive of Activity Across the Globe However, it is not just the UN and governing bodies swarming to action on behalf of our symbiotic pals. The ever-expanding environmentally conscious demographic has embraced the plight of this essential pollinator, too. Through established apitours, travelers are taking flight

to improve their knowledge of the honeybee and beekeeping practices to help stay the threat of this critical creature’s demise.

From Slovenia, Romania, Sardinia, New Zealand, and Malta, to France, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Uganda, the United States, and many places in between, the api-intrigued have a wide array of options for education, inspiration, and enrichment — from the most basic of environs to the most lux.

What Can Bee Expected When seeking out an apitour, travelers need to consider locale as well as their preferred level of immersion into the secret life of bees. For some, simply visiting with local beekeepers and tasting local honeys checks the proverbial box; for others, a much more immersive experience is desired, such as bee experiences offered in Slovenia and the United States.

Summer 2017 Opulence

73

Beekeeper in Slovenia

John Russo - bee expert at Carmel Valley Ranch

Slovenia Beekeeping is one of the oldest traditional crafts in Slovenia, which is home to approximately 9,600 beekeepers, 12,500 apiaries, and 170,000 hive colonies on last count. Bee-sotted travelers can learn ancient beekeeping practices, meet with members of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, tour the Beekeeping Museum in Radovljica, visit a Slovene bee house to breathe aerosol from the hives while relaxing (or sleeping) to the hum of the bees, experience a honey facial or massage, and dine on api-cuisine, among other bee-centric activities.

To learn more about apitours throughout Slovenia, visit www.authentic-routes.com.

United States Closer to home for the U.S. bee seeker is Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel, California. This award-winning resort does its best to nurture the spirit through its surroundings as well as its programming, which artfully balances luxury, nature, and education. One such program is the Bee Experience, which is led by artisan beekeeper and lavender expert John Russo. Guests are invited to suit up in beekeeping suits to “bee to believe,” including walking into the apiary to experience the cooperation of the 60,000 Italian honey bees in action, helping with hive duties such as honey harvesting, feeding new colonies, inspecting the colonies’ health, adding or removing the chambers in which the bees store excess honey, and, of course, tasting honey directly from the hive.

To learn more about the Bee Experience at Carmel Valley Ranch, visit www.carmelvalleyranch.com.

74

Opulence Summer 2017

Apitherapy: The Good, the Bad, and the Buzzy Apitherapy is an alternative therapy that utilizes bee products — honey, pollen, bee bread, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom — to promote healing in the body. Although this therapy dates to the ancient Egyptians and is not supported by medical evidence, it remains a go-to method for healing and well-being for many throughout the world.

In more recent years, mainstream celebrities have touted the benefits of certain natural therapies, including using honey as an alternative for dressing wounds, as a facial mask for clearer skin, and in oral hygiene, and using bee venom in face creams for a purported anti-aging effect on the skin. Bee venom is also believed to reduce rheumatism-related problems, such as arthritis, and it is currently being studied in the treatment of such illnesses, as well as in cancer therapy. The National Institutes of Health, however, warns about the safety of using bee venom as a therapeutic compound due to possible adverse reactions ranging from skin reactions to anaphylaxis, so be certain to consult your physician should you be interested in exploring apitherapy.

DOMINICA The Nature Island

By Carol Antman

F

or several years, a yellowing

magazine clip had lingered in

our “dream trip” file tantalizing my husband and me: Take

the “ultimate challenge…” hiking to “hot

streams of varied colours, sulphur deposits, boiling mud, mini-geysers and fumaroles…”

Summer 2017 Opulence

75

I

t touted a paradise of 365 rivers, hot springs, waterfalls, tropical fish and the perversely attractive Valley of Desolation. Located in the Lesser Antilles (and not the Dominican Republic), Dominica is an independent country lovingly called the Nature Island where people live close to the land, eat what they grow, drink from the streams, catch fish and spear lobster. Two-thirds of its 290 square miles is covered with lush rainforests, blanketing the mountains to the black sand shore. English is the official language; locals also speak a colorful Kwéyòl. Despite being ranked as the top sustainable island in the Caribbean by National Geographic, it is the least visited with only 75,000 overnight visitors each year. Vacationers looking for wide beaches go elsewhere. But for outdoor enthusiasts it is a gem.

Hitting The Trail The Waitukubuli National Trail is the Caribbean’s first long distance hiking trail, running 115 miles divided into 14 sections of varying difficulty. We slogged along for two hours on section six up the picturesque coast. A short traipse on section one led to a stunning view of Martinique. Our high-tech hiking boots and poles seemed like a necessity until a trio of barefooted men walked past balancing buckets of fresh catch on their heads, spear guns in hand.

In this magical place, people have waterfalls in their backyards.

At both Spanny and Jacko Falls, we paid the proprietors a couple of dollars and walked down short paths past their modest houses for refreshing dips, alone in paradise. Even at the spectacular Emerald Pool in the Trois Pitons National Park there were only a few other tourists.

We bathed in the hot springs at Soufriere and Wotten Waven and snorkeled on the southern coast where scuba diving is a big attraction.

One highlight was Champagne Beach where effervescent bubbles, emanating from inside the volcanic earth, tickled our bellies as we swam through a veritable aquarium. “If the bubbles ever stop, we’re really in trouble,” our guide Asha quipped. Could be an earthquake.

Having a guide for a few days enabled us to hike to the spectacular Victoria Falls down an obscure path that crossed a river several times. As we swam beside the cascade, I told my husband, “Take a pic-

ture of this with your mind to look at whenever you’re stressed.” So we stayed happily damp either sweating up the hiking trails, going from one swim to another or from an occasional rain shower.

Cabanas, Baby!

Passion fruit Dominica lacks infrastructure like high rise hotels, but we made good choices by staying at the luxurious Pagua Bay just a few minutes from Douglas Charles Airport. We were greeted by Jenny, ever cheerful and welcoming, mixing us a strong rum cocktail. The six cabanas are air conditioned, beautiful and spacious. Each morning the proprietors, Rick and Alicia, circulate among the guests offering maps and suggestions on excursions.

Down the coast near the UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Park, we stayed in the more rustic Mango Cottage at Citrus Creek Plantation beside a roaring river with a private swimming hole.

Dominica Eats Both hotels have on-site restaurants that impressively prepare tasty meals . At Pagua Bay, the lobster ceviche was a spicy, colorful treat and the homemade bagels and ice cream were unexpected surprises. At Citrus Creek, I celebrated my birthday with a French onion pie and luscious chocolate cake with passion fruit ice cream.

Roadside shacks like Melvina’s served a filling Creole plate for just $5 and on Nosari Beach, Keeping It Real grilled us the best lobster of our lives. Driving our 4-wheel on the left was challenging. Narrow roads, precipitous shoulders, missing bridges and wrecked cars permanently planted against trees tested us. Reacting to my swervy driving, Mark made sounds I’d never heard from him before! Continuous curves befuddled our GPS “In 20 meters turn right, in 20 meters turn left, in 20 meters….” But friendly

One highlight was Champagne Beach where effervescent bubbles, emanating from inside the volcanic earth, tickled our bellies as we swam through a veritable aquarium. “If the bubbles ever stop, we’re really in trouble,” Champagne Beach

76

Opulence Summer 2017

our guide Asha quipped. Could be an earthquake.

locals were always happy to point us in the right direction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has never been easy to define the mysterious charm that has lured people to stay in Dominica forever and from which others have fled without even taking time to unpack,â&#x20AC;? wrote writer and legislator Elma Napier. But if you pack a sense of adventure and some stamina, you too will fall under its spell.

Top photo: Grilling lobster at Keeping It Real on Nosari Beach Bottom photo: Mango Cottage at Citrus Creek Plantation

If You Go: Tourist information and maps: www.DiscoverDominica.com Pagua Bay: www.paguabayhouse.com Citrus Creek Plantation: www.citruscreekplantation.com

Summer 2017 Opulence

77

COSTA RICA

WEIRD & WONDERFUL

WILDLIFE SAFARIS

By Jana Soeldner Danger

COSTA RICA

COSTA RICA

78

Opulence Summer 2017

G

liding in a small boat at midnight on a river in Borneo.

Witnessing families of gorillas playing, foraging, building nests and breastfeeding their babies. Catching sight of an elusive, fleet-footed jaguar running on the Pantanal in Brazil. Tracking footprints, crushed grass and animal warning cries to search out a tiger in India. Watching adorable meerkats peek out of their dens, then begin to tumble and play together as the rising African sun warms their bodies. And listening to the nocturnal croaking of red-eyed tree frogs in the darkness of a tropical night in Costa Rica.These are just a few of the lifechanging experiences awaiting animal loving world travelers in 2017.

BORNEO

Proboscis monkey

entering the zone unkNown â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inspired by this call to adventure, the traveler sets forth on their adventure, first crossing the threshold to enter a zone unknown â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a foreign land where they are unfamiliar with the landscape, the culture, the language, and/or the people [and native animals!],â&#x20AC;? said Michael Bennett, Ed.D., of the Transformational Travel Collaborative, who focused his doctoral research on the critical elements of adventure travel experiences that lead adults to transformational learning.

exploring ecosystems Interest in wildlife safaries around the world has soared, not only for the experiential thrill of entering the secret worlds of animals in their native habitats, but also for the transformational educational

BORNEO

BORNEO

BORNEO

Summer 2017 Opulence

79

experience to better understand sustainability and eco-responsibility in a way that helps local emerging economies shift from exploitive practices to those that promote conservation and preservation.

Here are some of the travel experiences waiting for adventurers:

Costa Rica The vibrant red-eyed tree frog (see page 78), the inquisitive Coatimundi and the jovial-looking but slow sloth enchant wildlife seekers in Costa Rica.

“This is an ideal gateway experience for a wildlife adventurer,” said Josh Cohen, director of Wild Planet Adventures based in California. “It has so many different ecosystems, all in close proximity to each other.” Adventurers can visit 12 distinct ecological zones within an area the size of New Hampshire.

Costa Rica has more plant species than all of Europe, and thousands of wildlife species.

Borneo In a Borneo nature trek (see page 79), guests can experience the oldest rainforest in the world and one of the only remaining natural habitats for endangered orangutans and proboscis monkeys, as well as creatures that could be straight from a fairytale, like the wide-eyed tarsier. You can also visit the remote Maliau Basin, a recently discovered pristine, untouched area known as the “Lost World.”

India Travel to one of the few places left in the world where tigers can be seen in the wild.

These beautiful, fearless felines spark the imaginations of many adventurers. Track them by listening to animal warning cries and hunting for footprints and bloodstains in the grass. “It’s authentic tracking,” said

Cohen. “A mystery unfolds before your eyes and suddenly you see the tiger.”

try also has a few remote and little-known reserves where rarer animals live..

Wild Planet Adventures assists with animal preservation here, as well. For example, it helps pay to vaccinate sheep against hoof and mouth disease, which had been killing them in large numbers. In exchange, shepherds agreed to stop poisoning leopards, which were preying on some of the sheep.

“The leopards are now living in harmony with the shepherds,” Cohen said.

Watch habituated (those that no longer feel threatened by humans) meerkat colonies, search for black-maned Kalahari lions, chimpanzees and cheetahs, and perhaps catch sight of the extremely rare panogolin (a scaly anteater), as well as aardvarks and aardwolfs, a type of hyena.

Japan Watch white macaques, or snow monkeys [like the curious little guy shown at right], relaxing in natural hot springs on the slopes of the Japanese Alps near the Nagano Prefecture on a Viator tour.

Travelers are most likely to see the fascinating creatures in the Jigokudani Monkey Park during the colder winter months when the animals prefer to enter the warm pools.

Brazil In Brazil, explore both the Pantanal, one of the world’s largest wetlands, as well as the Amazon rainforest. “The area has the highest density of jaguars in the world, and they come out to hunt caimans (small crocodiles),” Cohen said. “They’re one of the most coveted sightings, and they’re challenging and difficult to see.”

Sail around the Taiama Ecological Reserve station. You won’t be able to set foot on this river island, because no humans are allowed there, but you may well spot some jaguars. “It takes 10 hours to circumnavigate,” Cohen said.

South Africa and Uganda Many tourists visit South African national parks in search of the “big 5”: lions, leopards, buffalos, elephants, and rhinos. But the coun-

INDIA

80

Opulence Summer 2017

INDIA

In Uganda, adventurers will travel sideby-side with scientific researchers into the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where they may see tree-climbing lions and mongooses. They can also watch habituated gorilla families nursing their babies, foraging for food and going about other daily activities. “We have exclusive access to research station trails, and our travelers get to witness the gorillas in a wide variety of behaviors,” said Cohen. “We work side-byside with researchers and provide funding to discourage poaching. After 16 years of the program, there hasn’t been a single gorilla poached.”

wild pandas in china Who doesn’t love pandas? The Minshan Mountains of the Sichuan Province of China are the last wild habitat of these entrancing creatures, and you may be able to get up close and personal with some of them on a tour with Natural Habitat Adventures.

Bahamian Swimming Pigs No one knows exactly how pigs got to the Exuma Islands of the Bahamas. Some say sailors left them. Others think they swam from a shipwreck. Whatever their origin, today they delight visitors to Big Majors Cay by swimming out to meet their boats, hoping to be fed. Exuma Water Tours will help you get acquainted with the friendly creatures.

JAPAN

Japanese snow monkey

BAHAMAS

SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

BRAZIL

BRAZIL CHINA

Summer 2017 Opulence

81

Why Me. Acrylic on canvas. 36 x 40 inches.

GUSTAVO NOVOA JUNGLE OF MY OWN

By Dale King & Julia Hebert

The fanciful wildlife canvas menageries of Gustavo Novoa 82

Opulence Summer 2017

C

hilean-born artist Gustavo Novoa speaks candidly, paints portraits meticulously and thinks whimsically. A writer and painter who grew up in a family of lawyers in Santiago, the charming gentleman with a smooth, engaging Spanish accent pondered his own beginnings.

“I suppose painting came first,” he said. “It was a given. I was practically born with colored pencils in my hands. During my early years in school, by the end of the term, my books were unreadable because of the drawings I put in them.”

From Paint To Pen “My passion for writing came much later in life, and derived from reading literary works in Spanish, and, eventually, in English.” Novoa has written four books, some of which he also illustrated.

Before leaving home, Novoa took a shot at the family business, attending law school for a year. He quickly discovered that a career behind a

desk wasn’t his calling. He took to painting with passion and worked in various styles – “landscapes, nudes, still life works, boat scenes and so on, until I fell into my own menagerie.”

them, they consisted of more decorative aspects, kind of ‘National Geographic’ style in their habitats. Over the years, they have moved on to create their own stages.”

Since then, feline creatures of the wild have become the focal point of his artwork. They “reflect our own emotions in every painting.”

In some Novoa paintings, panthers or leopards have jumped from an internal frame and sit, ready to pounce on or stare down the patron viewing the portrait.

“My animals have become quite anthropomorphic and, in reality, they are characters,” said Novoa. “When I first started drawing

Quest To Become A ContemporaRy Great Novoa’s career has taken him from the sidewalks of Paris in the 1960s, where he sold watercolors and works in crayon, to the back tents of the Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey Circus. The budding artist – barely in his 20s – traded Paris for the lure of New York with its funky pop culture and “you can make it anywhere” brashness.

The artist finds inspiration in many places.

“It comes from all the imagery that surrounds us.”

One-man shows in Paris, New York, Palm Beach and Beverly Hills established him as a contemporary great in the field. His subject matter has branded him a champion of ecology and wildlife preservation.

Cristo Redentor. Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 24 inches.

The Intruder I. Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40 inches.

Summer 2017 Opulence

83

Left Bank. Acrylic on canvas, 30x40 inches.

Novoa has been involved in many philanthropic causes related to saving creatures in the wild, including Panthera, the Palm Beach Zoo and the San Antonio Zoo. The artist spent 25 years in New York before moving to Miami. In one of his most dramatic portraits, he depicts two jungle cats on one side of the Hudson River looking across to ghostly images of the World Trade Center. “The Twin Towers were part of my New York pride. I witnessed them being built. In the painting, they will always be there as ghosts, standing tall above the clouds, no matter what takes their place.”

84

Opulence Summer 2017

The artist finds inspiration in many places. “It comes from all the imagery that surrounds us.”

He presented lectures and mingled with visitors, many of them students.

Pointing out he has never been to Africa, Novoa said, “At this point, I don’t want to go.

I am far more comfortable creating my own imagery. And from the photos I’ve seen of people who have gone on safaris, I like my own backgrounds better.”

Defining his niche, Novoa describes himself as “between a surreal painter and a primitive painter. I’m a combination of the two.

But always in jungle fields. It’s where I feel comfortable.”

A Quarter Century Of Success Earlier this year, Novoa celebrated his 25 years as a portrait master with a display of his works called “A Utopian Jungle of His Own” at the Miami-Dade Public Library.

Gustavo Novoa’s information is available at www.gustavonovoa.com. The Wally Findlay Galleries in New York and Palm Beach, where his work is often on display, can be found at www.wallyfindlay.com For more information about Gustavo Novoa, go to www.gustavonovoa.com

What Women Want

A

B

C D

E

F

G

A: Louis Vuitton Rita Wedge Sandals • Louisvuitton.com B: The Belt Organizer • Elypro.com C: Hermes Peach and Blue Les Leopards Square Silk Scarf • hermes.com D: Round-Frame Metal Gucci Sunglasses • Gucci.com E: CHANEL Le Vernis Cruise Nail Polish • Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, chanel.com F: CREED Spring Flower • Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus • Creedboutique.com G: Danya Nubuck Bag

by Felio Siby • Feliosiby.com Summer 2017 Opulence

85

6

Exquisite Tiny Euro Towns You Didn’t Know Existed

T

By Robin Jay

he phrase “Less is more” originates in Robert Browning’s 1855 poem The Faultless Painter, about a Spanish artist who felt his complicated compositions were less impressive than a fellow painter’s most simplistic art-

works. Nearly a century later, the “less is more” phrase was adopted

by modern furniture designer and architect Ludwig Mies van der

Rohe, who used it to describe his minimalist design philosophy.

And now, in 2017, according to Skift travel trends research (see page 60) “less is more” when it comes to luxury travel – meaning that it’s not the size of the destination that matters most to affluent tourists, but rather the memorable experience.

Following are six tiny towns in Europe that you likely didn’t know were on the map. As you’ll see from the exquisite imagery, the incredible experience that awaits visitors confirms Browning’s theory that less certainly can be more.

86

Opulence Summer 2017

Hallstatt, Austria Pedestrians in Hallstatt can tour this breathtaking tiny town in under 15 minutes. The quaint Austrian village was first developed in 2,000 BCE when Iron Age Celtics congregated at Salzwelten, the first documented salt mine on Earth.

Because salt has historically been a highly sought after and valuable resource, the tiny region has almost always enjoyed a wealthy economy. The United Nations recognizes Hallstatt as a cultural World Heritage site, known for its welcoming small-town appeal, mountain ranges and caverns.

Hallstatt, Austria

Summer 2017 Opulence

87

According to Skift travel trends research (see page 60), “less is more” when it comes to luxury travel – meaning that it’s not the size of the destination that matters most to affluent tourists, but rather the memorable experience.

88

Opulence Summer 2017

Meteora, Greece In the 11th century, monks began settling in Meteora, which some believe quite miraculous considering the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sandstone peaks make it nearly unreachable.

Against incredible odds, the monks built 24 monasteries in the 15th century, and by the 16th century the frescoes created here proved a key development in the postByzantine art era.

Meteora, Greece

Summer 2017 Opulence

89

Mostar, Bosnia

Photo: Aly Noureldin

In the south of Bosnia, Mostar is a tiny city that straddles the Neretva River. The historic medieval arched bridge shown here is known as Stari Most and connects to a narrow staircase that leads to a mosque’s minaret, where visitors can take in stunning panoramic views. The original bridge was a landmark for more than 400 years, until 1993 when it was demolished in the Croat–Bosniak War. The “Old Bridge” was subsequently rebuilt and reopened in 2004.

Mostar, Bosnia

Menaggio, Italy

PHOTO: Boris Stoujka

A small commune tucked in a province in northern Italy, Menaggio rests on the western shore of Lake Como at the intersection of the Senagra River. Romans conquered Menaggio in 196 BC, which resulted in the building of the historic road known as “Via Regina,” a significant commercial and travel passage that first connected the Lombardy plain with the region north of the Alps.

Today, the cool summer town boats foghidden craggy mountains and attracts golfers at the Cadenabbia Golf Club.

PHOTO: Dan Brooke

Menaggio, Italy

Ronda, Spain

90

Opulence Summer 2017

Ronda, Spain On the Mediterranean seaside of Costa Del Sol, in the southwest region of Andalusia, Spain, rests the tiny city of Ronda.

Dan Brooke from International Opulence recently traveled to the scenic mountain town with his wife, Tatiana. He snapped this spectacular cliff-top photograph of the deep gorge that divides the town and the Puente Nuevo bridge that offers access to either side.

Editor’s note: In the upcoming Fall 2017 edition of International Opulence, look for a complete pictorial feature review of the Brooke’s travels to the Mediterranean Coast, which included visits to Marbella, Malaga and Seville in Spain and the British territory of Gibraltar, areas that date back to the occupation of the Moors as you’ll see reflected in the architecture.

Reine, Norway

PHOTO: Elena Suvorova

Reine, Norway A French word meaning “queen,” Reine is a small fishing village in Norway situated on Moskenesøya Island in the Lofoten archipelago (above the Arctic Circle). It has served as a commercial center since 1743. In the 1970s, Reine became known as the most beautiful village in Norway. An interesting bit of nostalgia about Reine is that Coca-Cola hosted a product launch in the charming town and now adoringly refers to it as “our smallest launch yet.”

Summer 2017 Opulence

91

Haute horology highlights of Baselworld 2017 in Switzerland COMPILED By ROBIN JAY

assion, precision and perfection was this year’s theme at the 100th anniversary of Baselworld, considered the most important global trendsetting show for the world’s watch and jewelry industry.

The tradition started in 1917 with just 29 brands. A century later, this past March, the Baselworld 2017 hosted horology enthusiasts from more than 100 countries to celebrate the convention of the creme de la creme of the industry who united to take the pulse of the market, marvel at the new collections and witness the start of a new trendsetting cycle.

“Baselworld is not just a show of the best Swiss watch brands, but more importantly the showcase of the entire Swiss and international industry.

During eight days, people do not only enter into the heart of the industry, but also feel the pulse of it, getting a vision of the future,” said Jean-Claude Biver, President of the LVMH Watch Division, CEO TAG Heuer and CEO Zenith.

“We know from experience, our new collections and creations will be all the

92

Opulence Summer 2017

Guests at Baselworld 2017 met explorers and pioneers of the realms of time and beauty, cunning craftsmen and skillful artisans – pinnacles of their craft.

1

talk in the coming 12 months,” said Eric Bertrand, President of the Baselworld Exhibitors’ Committee.

Here’s a look at some of the stunning horology “all the talk” at International Opulence magazine:

1. GANESH SHAKUDO WATCH BY BLANCPAIN – The Hindu god Ganesh, remover of obstacles and patron of arts and sciences, adorns the dial of this timepiece. The gold-copper alloy Shakudo provides endless possibilities for the creation of individual dial designs.

2. FUGAKU TOURBILLON LIMITED EDITION

BY CREDOR – The engraver of this show-stopping watch, Kiyoshi Terui, was named a “Contemporary Master Craftsman” of Japan and awarded the Medal with Yellow Ribbon in 2007 by the Emperor of Japan himself.

3. PREMIERE CAMELLIA SKELETON BY CHANEL – With a bezel of 18k gold set with diamonds, this elegant watch showcases an intense black open-worked dial with a movement layout shaped like the camellia, Mademoiselle Chanel’s favorite flower.

4. L’HEURE IMPATIENTE OF THE SLIM D’HERMÈS LINE

BY HERMES –

2

This sophisticated classic piece of horology is set in red gold and features an automatic Calibre H1912 visible through its transparent case back.

5. AVENUE CLASSIC CHERRY BLOSSOM BY HARRY WINSTON – With mother-of-pearl, brilliantcut diamonds, and pink sapphires, this beautiful timepiece emanates a sense of playful sophistication.

6. LA D DE DIOR SATINE BY CHRISTIAN DIOR – This sleek and stunning white gold timepiece is also available in pink gold and transports the beauty of a satin ribbon to a wristwatch.

3

Baselworld 2018 will be held from Thursday 22 to Tuesday 27 March 2018 in Basel, Switzerland.

4

5

6 A glimpse of guests at Baselworld 2017 in Switzerland Summer 2017 Opulence

93

Gentlemenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner B A

C

F

E

94

OPULENCE Summer 2017

D

G

H

I

J

K

L

A: Swims Breeze Lace Loafers • Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth AvM

enue, Bloomingdale’s or swims.com B: Heavy Metal Pendant and Buster Bulb • busterandpunch.us C: Doettling Fortress Humidor & Watch Safe • doettling.com D: 55 mm Ice Ball Maker for Whisky • bespokepost.com E: World Whisky of the Year: Yamazaki single malt sherry cask 2013 • thewhiskyexchange.com F: J.Crew Men’s Shorts With Red Embroidered Crabs • jcrew.com G: CREED Millesime Imperial • Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus • creedboutique.com H: The Bow Tie Organizer • elypro.com I: Koenigsegg Regera • koenigsegg.com J: Louis Vuitton Latitude Pilot America’s Cup Sunglasses • Louisvuitton.com K: Hermes Limited Edition Belt • hermes.com L: Louis Vuitton Fragment Sweatshirt • Louisvuitton. com M: Stingray Duffel Bag by Felio Siby • feliosiby.com

Summer 2017

OPULENCE

95

Industry Leader Profile

By Alona ABBADY Martinez

Paolo Buonfante: A Visionary In Beauty

Paolo Buonfante

Kate Upton

I

t is hard not to get lost in Paolo Buonfante’s eyes. They are the color of your favorite pair of jeans, the ones that are worn-in and super comfy, and make a stark contrast with his cropped white hair.

But the Vice President of Operations at DAS Model Management is much more than a pretty face. A force in the fashion industry for the past 30 years, Paolo has his sights set on making DAS an international boutique modeling agency offering its signature personalized service in a worldwide network of offices. Given his drive and past achievements, it’s sure to happen, and fast.

Buonfante, 50, has the fashion industry in his DNA. His grandfather made his fortune selling fabrics after WWII. By the time Paolo 96

OPULENCE Summer 2017

Trish Goff

Claudia Schiffer

was born, the family owned a successful wholesale textile company throughout Italy. As a young man, Paolo worked in the family business, learning every aspect of the trade. He served a year in the military and then pursued a career in modeling.

He felt it was not the right fit.

“I like more the management part, the behind the scenes,” Buonfante said.

The Pioneering Scouting Trip Paolo volunteered to do an unpaid scouting trip to the U.S. for a modeling agency in Milano. There, he discovered Trish Goff, a 16-year-old girl from Orlando who would go on to grace the cover of Vogue Italia

Eva Herzigová

Heidi Klum

and shoot for high-end fashion campaigns like Valentino.

“That was the first scouting trip of my life, and I found one of the top models in the industry.”

His goal was to return to Miami “I fell in love with Miami the first time I came here to study English,” Buonfante explained.

He is referring to the year he spent in North Carolina prior to working in the family business.

Today, DAS’s office is lined with floor-towall windows framed by alabaster sheer curtains softening the bright light of Miami Beach. Paolo glanced outside as a sports car whizzed by.

“I remember I was in Key Biscayne, looking at the sunset, and I saw dolphins in the bay, with these coconut trees and the white sand, and then, I heard a sound, turned around, and there’s a Lamborghini convertible speeding behind me. I felt like I was in a dream! Between the nature and the lifestyle, I just lost it! I said, ‘I’m moving here!

I love it!’”

Hello Magic City!

Paolo did return, seeking a position in every Miami agency. When there was none, he offered to work without pay for one month at L’Agence Models, a branch of the Metropolitan modeling agency based in Paris and New York City. In less than six months, he became director, working with the biggest names in fashion like Claudia Schiffer, Eva Herzigová and Heidi Klum.

He also worked at Elite Model Management for 11 years, where he was responsible for developing some of today’s most iconic names in fashion, including Kate Upton, Christine Teigan and Nina Agdal.

His rise to the top has always been fast, thanks to a rock-solid work ethic and his natural gift of discovery.

“For me, passion is critical for the success of anyone. It doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s about how much you love what you are doing. And your dreams,” he emphasized. “We always have to have dreams.”

His secret for success is surprisingly simple

One of the DAS agency’s emerging models who Paolo has been working with most recently is Ditta Kucsik from Hungary (shown above, top left), a leading face of Leonisa — the top lingerie and swimwear line from Colombia — whose campaign is soon to sweep Latin America. Also pictured above are Paolo at the agency with models (top right), Alexis Marie (lower right), and Daiane Sodre (lower left).

Rasheed Alli, founder and managing partner of DAS, is excited as well

“Everybody asks, ‘what is the new trend this season?’ I’ve been scouting for the same all my life: I’m looking for a natural look, the girl next door, but the most important thing is to have a positive energy.”

Paolo joined DAS in 2016 and is excited with, what he calls, “this new adventure in my career.” He’s particularly proud of the mentoring program. “We do personal management, which starts from interviewing a girl that never modeled before. We offer a professional photographer service with no charge and do all the development for free.

No agency does that.”

“Paolo’s philosophy is very much aligned with how I think a modeling agency should be, just from the way he treats the models respectfully, paying them on time, not taking models we can’t book,” he explained.

“He’s a genuine person, an all-around man of his word.”

In his spare time, Paolo flies his Sportsman Glasair seaplane, the current and third aircraft he has owned.

Rasheed Alli

“In the summer, I stay in my Key Largo home and fly to work every day. It’s amazing!”

Summer 2017 Opulence

97

Mega

swinging Thru Fromberg Skydivers Launch Off the World’s Longest Swing

By Tarquin Cooper

The Unexpected Surprise Take four skydivers, two hot air balloons, a 410-foot-long rope with a seat on the end, climb to 5,900 feet and this is what you get: Mega Swing, the result of an idea to make the world’s longest swing.

“Ya, [it’s like at your childhood playground], we just wanted to go bigger,” said Austrian Marco Waltenspiel, who with fellow Red Bull skydivers Georg Lettner, Marco Fürst and Dominic Roithmair made this project happen in Fromberg, Austria, on July 4, 2016.

The Thrill “You have this acceleration in another direction, unlike anything you’d experience with a normal BASE jump or skydive,” said 98

Opulence Summer 2017

Roithmair, who came up with the idea for the Mega Swing. “You jump, freefall, waiting for the moment when the line goes tight, then suddenly there’s this non-motorized acceleration. I can’t think of a freefall that had such different patterns of movement.”

“The idea behind Mega Swing was to realize that childhood dream we all have,” said Lettner. “It’s everyone’s dream to swing higher and higher, and finally jump off and fly.”

“We were initially all a little skeptical about whether it would work at all,” added Waltenspiel. “But it was just perfect in the end.”

The most unique part of the stunt was the lack of noise. “If you’re in an airplane or helicopter, you always have that noise around you. Here you only hear from the burner,” said Roithmair. “Even the rocking is very special. You hear only the wind at the end of the pendulum, it’s actually very quiet.”

To pull off the stunt was a major logistical challenge. The team required not just perfect weather, but expert hot air balloon pilots. The two balloons had to be exactly at the right distance apart to have the perfect tension in the swing before making the jump.

As for the hardest part? “Staying on board the swing,” said Roithmair.

“You jump, freefall, waiting for the moment when the line goes tight, then suddenly there’s this non-motorized acceleration!”

– Dominic Roithmair The Red Bull Skydive Team: Georg Lettner, Marco Waltenspiel, Marco Fürst, Dominic Roithmair Summer 2017 Opulence

99

F e n c i ng Like Th e

Godfather F The Physical Chess of Czech foil fencer Alexander Choupenitch Edited By Robin Jay and Red Bull Sports

or Alexander Choupenitch’s parents, emotions are everything. Their fencing son is the complete antithesis, to the extent he has to be “like The Godfather.”

Keeping his emotions in check are key for the 22-yearold Czech foil fencer in a sport he describes as “physical chess” in contrast to his opera-singing parents.

Speaking of his father, he says: “There’s a book of opera and he needs to learn all the lyrics: Italian, English, German, Russian. Then he needs to learn how to sing it - opera is very hard to sing.

“Then he needs to be an actor. You need to act, to feel, to show your emotions. That’s what people want to see… emotions. Fencing is very easy compared to this.”

It means a contrasting approach, when parents and son are on their respective stages. “I’m trying to be cooler, like The Godfather,” said Alexander laughing.

The Early Years Performing has been his or his parents’ way for as long as he can remember. They would perform with the National Theatre Brno before setting off post-performance at 10 p.m. to drive their son across different pockets of Europe to his respective competitions from Salzburg to Bratislava.

Today, Alexander is one of the rising stars of his sport. From his first major victory in 2011 at the Cadet European Championships to silver at the Junior World Championships the following year and nearly qualifying for London 2012 as a 17-year-old, he has long promised to deliver and has enjoyed a highest ranking of fifth in the world.

His parents remain both his biggest backers and harshest critics.

“Thanks to them, I am here because they really supported me financially in the beginning,” he said. “Now they cannot handle it as I’m going to places like Tokyo and Shanghai, but they’re still really supporting me. They are also very critical. If I make a bad result, they’ll give it to me. They’ll say ‘you really messed it up’. ” The tough love has had the desired effect. His parents took him to as many as 45 competitions a year, in contrast to now where a typical year is more akin to just 12.

At The Top Of His Game That he finds himself among the world’s best foil fencers is somewhat fortuitous. A keen sportsman in his youth - he had tried ice hockey, karate, tennis and basketball - he only tried his hand at fencing after managing to get his hands on a ball at a basketball session only three times in an hour.

“I wasn’t into Star Wars or The Three Musketeers or anything like that, but I said I’d try fencing,” Alexander recalled. “We then started doing fencing footwork, which looks like ballet. I was like ‘I’m not doing it’, then here I am today.”

One could argue he was born to fence. Despite never meeting her, his stepgrandmother was Tatyana Petrenko-Samusenko, a three-time Olympic foil champion for the former Soviet Union, while his first forays into the sport resonated with his grandfather back in Belarus.

He was enrolled in training camps in Belarus in the summer holidays, his first coach there an Olympic champion.

Alexander was so obsessed with climbing up the rankings that when first allowed to travel to competitions without his parents at age 13, the money his mother gave him for a hotel and food, he spent on other means.

“I had the money and I could use it how I wanted to. So, I gave almost all the money for fencing lessons so I could have more lessons with the coach, but the thing is, I didn’t have a place to live or eat. So I asked the Belarus guys if I could sleep on their floor, but I had more lessons.

“I never told my mother as she’d be angry with me. I was a big businessman even back then!”

As well as aspiring to be the world’s No.1 exponent of his sport, Alexander has pledged to spread the message of the sport both at home and globally.

100

Opulence Summer 2017

PHOTO BY DAN VOJTECH Summer 2017 Opulence

101

As well as aspiring to be the world’s No.1 exponent of his sport, Alexander has pledged

Giving Back to Help Future Fencers “After Rio [the Olympics], I had training camps with kids,” he said. “I had no vacation after the Games, but it was the right thing to do because in Czech Republic there are many really good children, but they don’t have the opportunity to progress.”

When not on the piste in competition, Alexander’s secret talents are playing Photograph by Ed Sheeran on the piano, cooking and singing in the shower, although he does not envision following his parents onto the musical stage. For him, his stage - a sporting one - is already set.

to spread the message of the sport both

PHOTO BY DAN VOJTECH

at home and globally.

Alexander Choupenitch performs in Prague, Czech Republic

102

Opulence Summer 2017

By Todd R. Sciore

Business Profile

The Collector’s Collector Arlan Ettinger Shares The Secrets To Guernsey’s Auction House Success

A

t some point in our lives, many of us have been told “don’t quit your day job” – especially after a less-than-star-quality attempt at humor or singing. For Arlan Ettinger, a founder of the renown auction house Guernsey’s, quitting the day job was the best career move he ever made. International Opulence had a special opportunity to speak with Arlan about Guernsey’s success and why the auction house has been chosen to handle personal items from an impressive list of American icons, like Presidents John F. Kennedy and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, civil rights activist Rosa Parks, baseball hall of famer Mickey Mantle and musician Jerry Garcia.

“The whole point of collecting is the thrill of acquisition,” wrote author John Baxter in A Pound Of Paper: Confessions Of A Book Addict. Nobody understands this mindset better than Arlan Ettinger, whose personal collections are massive but vary widely.

“I’m not a specific collector, yet you couldn’t be in my world without having lots of objects. My interests go all over the place.”

The Art of Making News One of the keys to Guernsey’s success over the years is their ability to not only procure items and conduct the physical auction, but also to generate a media buzz about the event. “I was a young guy in the 1970s with a marketing degree and had gotten into the world of advertising,” said Arlan. With this background, and some astute observations he made while attending auctions, he was able to essentially rewrite the playbook on operating a successful auction house.

Traditionally, auction-house advertising was primarily budget driven. Arlan quickly realized this limited the scope of who they were reaching. “As a young marketing guy, I thought to myself, ‘if someone could produce auctions that were truly interesting, thematic events that took new directions, then maybe the media would get interested and start reporting on these events, and we could reach a much, much larger audience.’ ”

For Grateful Dead fans, there is only one “Wolf”: the late Jerry Garcia’s beloved guitar. It sold in a 2002 Guernsey’s auction for nearly $1 million. The buyer, wishing to support the Southern Poverty Law Center, has returned Wolf to Guernsey’s for auction on May 31, 2017. To find out how much it fetched, go to www. internationalopulence.com.

Summer 2017

OPULENCE

103

“The whole point of collecting is the thrill of acquisition.”

– John Baxter in A Pound Of Paper: Confessions Of A Book Addict chased more than three decades later at the Guernsey auction simply reminded him of the night he met his wife.

The gentlemen had read about the upcoming auction in The Wall Street Journal and saw pictures of a few featured guitars. “He told me he would have never read a guitar magazine, he wasn’t into that,” Arlan added. While that guitar didn’t have any special lineage, Guernsey’s has handled its fair Guernsey’s Auction House founder Arlan Ettinger with his dog Rascal. share of famous instruments, including Jerry Proof In The Pudding Garcia’s famous “Wolf” guitar, pictured on As living testimonies to that logic, Arlan previous page. shared a few anecdotes about auctions of old carousel figures and guitars. “A man came When asked what the future holds for to me needing to raise $30,000 to pay hos- Guernsey’s, Arlan noted, “We try to be honpital bills. He had about 90 antique wooden orable people, but I think our real claim to carousel figures, horses and other animals. fame is [that] we market these events in I took on the challenge of selling his collec- ways that no one has quite equaled, and so tion.” After an appearance on NBC’s Today there’s not an auction that we do these days Show to promote the story, “that auction that doesn’t get plenty of media coverage.” fetched $1,000,000 – which at that time, for The Business Lesson those types of objects – was beyond unbe- For any aspiring or even an established lievable,” Arlan said with a smile. brand, Guernsey’s creativity and marketing Another time, after a particular guitar auction, Arlan walked up and thanked the buyer of a $400,000 instrument and inquired if he was a dedicated collector. The buyer, a CEO of a large corporation, replied that it was a surprise gift for his wife, whom he met 35 years earlier on a blind date. They had walked past a music store that evening, and in the window was a guitar they both agreed was beautiful. The instrument he pur-

104

Opulence Summer 2017

approach offers not only valuable business advice, but also the results to back it up. The rest of their success lies with honest dealings and a true passion for what they do. “Make no mistake

This Stevie Ray VaughanOwned & Signed c. 1966-67 Fender sold at auction in February for $80,000.

about it…people take great pride in their collections and they want someone who feels that pride when the day comes to get rid of their collection.”

Arlan further added, “If something is compelling or interesting, even if there is no track record for what it might be worth, if it sounds right, we will likely do the auction.”

When considering that Guernsey’s successfully auctioned off the entire contents of the SS United States – the “largest auction ever held” – anything is possible.

Unorthodox Taxidermy of Dr. Seuss A glimpse into the rare 1930s sculptures of Theodor Seuss Geisel’s Marine Muggs set

By JANA SOELDNER DANGER

Dilemma Fish

F

ired by sparks from an unparalleled imagination, they’re whimsical and wonderful creatures, each with a unique personality. Collectors covet them, using them to create mini menageries designed to delight—

and to reflect the nonsense and fantasy that Dr. Seuss believed were important to living happily. But the Unorthodox Taxidermy sculptures, one of his lesser known art forms, actually began as an attempt to breathe life into an advertising campaign for a very dull product.

Dr. Seuss, cartoonist, animator, artist and the author of scores of beloved children’s books, began his career in the 1930s as an advertising executive. One of his clients was a company called Essomarine, and his job was to sell its motorboat oils and lubricants. To make the brand stand out from competitors, Summer 2017 Opulence

105

Gimlet Fish

he drew a series of fish that he incorporated into the ads.

“I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells.

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.”

“They were imaginary creatures that might wreak havoc on your boating experiences,” said Mike Hardin, managing director of the Northbrook, IL - based Chase Group, publishers of the Dr. Seuss Project. “To get people to remember the brand, he used this wacky campaign. He’s widely credited with being the first person to use humor to sell a product.”

Two Dimensions to Three The creatures then were two-dimensional.

But later Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, would turn them into three-dimensional sculptures inspired by his love of animals. As a child, he spent many hours at the zoo in Springfield, MA. “His mother encouraged him to draw the animals he saw there on his bedroom wall,” said Valerie Jackson, owner of the Ann Jackson Gallery in Roswell, GA, which exhibits authorized replicas made from molds of the original sculptures.

Later his father, Theodor Robert Geisel, became superintendent of the zoo. When animals passed away, he would send parts of them to his son, who by then was an adult

Carbonic Walrus

Flaming Herring

106

Opulence Summer 2017

Sludge Tarpon

living and working in New York City. “He did it to encourage his son’s creativity, and it helped to produce the genius and cultural icon he became,” Hardin said.

“Theodor used the animal parts to create sculptures he called Unorthodox Taxidermy, and some of the fish in the Marine Muggs set resemble drawings in his original Essomarine campaign. But there was more to it than that.

“The sculptures were what he imagined the animals would like to be reincarnated as,” Hardin says. “Each one is infused with human characteristics and a human personality. They reflect our humanity in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way.”

Some of the creatures, sculpted from plaster and mounted on wood plaques as a taxidermist might do, eventually found their way into Geisel’s beloved stories. “We can see how some of his early ideas and characters evolved into another setting and found a home in his children’s books,” Hardin said.

A Chance Encounter The books, for which Geisel is best known, might not have happened if not for a chance encounter. After pitching his first book, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, to more than 25 publishers and having it rejected by all of them, Geisel was

walking down a New York City street on his way home, determined to set fire to the manuscript. “He was terribly discouraged,” Jackson said. “But he just happened to run into a college friend who had just been hired by Vanguard. The friend took him to meet his editor, and the rest is history. If he’d been walking on the other side of the street, we might never have had these books.”

Becoming Dr. Seuss Geisel began writing under the pen name Dr. Seuss while he was still studying at Dartmouth and editor of the literary magazine there. After being caught hosting a drinking party in his room during the height of Prohibition, he was kicked out of extracurricular activities. To continue writing, he had to adopt a pseudonym.

Seuss – which was really pronounced to rhyme with “voice” not “juice”— was his mother’s maiden name.

work was the easy part, but the writing was murder. He wanted his books to be perfect.”

Geisel was adept at using language sparingly.

In the 1960s, his editor bet him $50 that he couldn’t write a book using just 50 words. The editor lost. Green Eggs and Ham has exactly that number.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Dr. Seuss Project, and his works remain very popular. “The taxidermy is perhaps the gem of the whole project,” Hardin said. “A threedimensional Dr. Seuss creation is so unexpected. He had a lot of fun with them, and they’re fun to live with. That’s why people collect them.”

Writing Was Murder Illustrating was easier for Dr. Seuss than putting words on paper. “Drawing came naturally to him,” Hardin said. “He said the art-

Sea Turtle Powerless Puffer Summer 2017 Opulence

107

2 0 6 0 B I S C AY N E B O U L E VA R D • M I A M I F L , 3 3 1 3 7 305.571.1200 • BRAMANMIAMI.COM

Celebrating 150 years of

ChautaUQUA Traveling culture

By Kelly Villasuso

110

Opulence Summer 2017

i

n decades past, childhood summertime in the United States seemed simple and carefree for most children — playing outside with friends on warm, sun-drenched days, catching fireflies and playing flashlight tag on balmy, star-filled nights. Today, as a whole new era of worldly issues impact parenting, families across the country strive not only to provide safe environments for their children, but also to let them play freely and independently without fear. One long-standing, yet-little-known movement today – the Chautauqua movement – has provided family-friendly safe havens for nearly 150 years.

The Social and Cultural Phenomenon

Theodore Roosevelt called Chautauqua “the most American thing in America”

Chautauqua (pronounced shaw-taw-kwaw) is a Native American (Iroquois) word meaning “a bag tied in the middle” or “two moccasins tied together,” which describes the shape of Lake Chautauqua in New York state. In 1874, the western shoreline of Lake Chautauqua became home to the Chautauqua Institution, the mother of what later will be deemed “a social and cultural phenomenon in the United States,” as shared by the Chautauqua Trail (www. chautauquatrail.com).

The original intention varies depending on the source, however most concur that the primary goal of a Chautauqua was to build a community by supporting all people in their intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and physical development. According to former President Jimmy Carter, “The idea of a Chautauqua lets people get to know each other in America and to see what a great country we have. And not only what a great country we have, but why America is so good. That’s the best thing I see about Chautauqua.”

photo credit: Raul Villasuso Jr.

Once referred to by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt as “the most American thing in America,” the Chautauqua movement has successfully provided such utopic environments for generations of families — children and adults, alike — across the country. And the ‘halcyon days’ of Chautauqua summers are alive and well in the 11 continuously operating programs, such as at the original Chautauqua Institution in New York and the New Piasa Chautauqua in Illinois; in the numerous revitalized Chautauquas, including the Plains Chautauqua in Plains, Georgia in which former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter are avid supporters; and in the several Chautauquas just getting started, such as in Muskegon, Canada.

So what is this “Chautauqua” (and how is it pronounced)? And what does a modernday Chautauqua offer to families today?

Entrance to the show pavilion at New Piasa Chautauqua, a private summer resort near St. Louis, started in the 19th century. It is one of 11 still operating Chautauqua communities nationally at which a circuit of shows (known at the turn of the century as ‘traveling culture’) visits to entertain guests.

Today, at many of the 100 cottages at New Piasa Chautauqua live descendants of earlier owners.

Summer 2017 Opulence

111

Over the course of a Chautauqua summer, a wide variety of entertainment and culture was brought to the nearly 250 official Chautauqua communities across the country at the high point of the movement. This included speakers such as William Jennings Bryan, Russell Conwell, and Helen Potter; musicians such as John Philip Sousa protégé Bohumir Kryl’s Bohemian Band; and entertainers such as the May Valentine Opera Company, which performed Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado across the country during the 1925 Chautauqua season.

Over the course of its nearly 150 years, the Chautauqua movement has influenced the lives of millions of Americans and continues to do so through the remaining operating communities.

Chautauqua Moments According to Chautauqua historian and author of The Western Chautauqua: A History of New Piasa Chautauqua, Timothy R. Tomlinson, “There is now a renewal of interest in the Chautauqua movement […] because people are looking for a more wholesome, simple way of life; a way to share with their families a piece of their own childhood and that of their parents and grandparents.”

At New Piasa Chautauqua, which has been operating continuously for 131 years, Mr. Tomlinson shared that although he did not grow up coming to this Chautauqua, he has been “experiencing Chautauqua moments for about five decades.” As with thousands and thousands of families throughout the Chautauqua movement’s history, he shares, “My wife Rosie and I brought our children here and now that they are grown with children of their own, our grandchildren come to stay. In fact, my grandson is here now and he just told me that he thinks the best part of being with us [at the Chautauqua] is that he can go outside and play and not have to worry about anything.

And I think that is really important for kids to have today.” And walking around the New Piasa Chautauqua in Chautauqua, Illinois, it is easy to see why.

New Piasa is like a time capsule, capturing the best of American summers for any and all to enjoy. The wooded property is dotted with Chautauqua Institution on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in southwestern New York state comes alive each summer with a unique mix of fine and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities.

112

Opulence Summer 2017

approximately 125 cottages, as well as public buildings such as the Town Hall, the auditorium, and the pottery studio. As you meander the streets, it is truly like walking onto the set of a movie based in small-town America in the early-to-mid 1900s … complete with pristine, white clapboard houses and public buildings, accented by vivid green shutters, a sea of red, white, and blue of the American flags, and yellows and oranges of childrens’ bicycles on momentary hiatus.

Although the cottages are unique from each other, they do have one thing in common: a screened-in porch. According to resident Debbie Vuagniaux, after approximately four decades of visiting and now owning in New Piasa, “The porches are Chautauqua to me. They are the epicenter.

Since most of the cottages were built in the early 1900s, there was no air conditioning, so the porch is where the people sat.” She recounts, “I remember just walking in and sitting on people’s porches to visit and people did the same at my Grammy’s where I spent lots and lots of time. I remember she used to take out a huge old silver pot and make the most delicious popcorn and serve it to us on the porch with homemade lemonade while we played checkers and card games and giggled endlessly.”

Like the majority of residents at the New Piasa Chautauqua and the other communities across the country, both Tomlinson and Vuagniaux are looking to continuously recreate such simple but poignant memories for their children and, as for Tomlinson, his grandchildren. Vuagniaux shares, “We want to allow our kids to be independent and to build confidence just by feeling they can go out all day on their bikes without being scared or playing tag outside at night while still feeling safe.”

If you, too, are looking to step back from the fast-paced and often uncertain times in which we are living, look to experiencing even just a week or two at one of the country’s treasured Chautauquas this summer. You can discover more at both www. chautauquatrail.com and www.ciweb.org.

Travel writer K​elly Villasuso and photographer Raul Villasuso, Jr. live in Chicago but, through their travels, call the world home.

Love

Is…All Around 2017’s annual Celebrity Martini Glass Auction attendees show the love with record-breaking donations to PAWS

“

By John D. Adams

General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere… If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.”

– Hugh Grant’s prime minister character in the show ‘Love, Actually’

Love in all of its splendor was in full bloom at 2017’s annual Celebrity Martini Glass Auction (CMGA) in Naples, FL. Philanthropist and founder Brenda Melton asked attendees to open their hearts with her theme “Love Is…” And with open hearts came a bounty of open wallets. “Love Is…” was a record-breaking year for the CMGA, which raised more than $600,000 in support of PAWS Assistant Dogs, a non-profit corporation that promotes in-

dependence for combat wounded veterans and children with lifechanging disabilities through partnerships with skilled assistance dogs. “We asked the crowd to join us in the CMGA love story and they did,” Melton exclaimed. “Our amazing guests welcomed our veterans, making donations to fund more service-dogs-in-training and bidding both high and often on auction items that will ensure PAWS has the resources to continue meeting the needs of our wounded warriors. We couldn’t be more thankful!”

Love is…dedication Melton started the CMGA back in 2008 to aid fundraising efforts for the Naples Film Festival. Donations totaled an impressive $21,000 that first year. After refocusing and refining her mission,

Summer 2017 Opulence

113

Love Story – Autographed by Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw

Melton’s CMGA has ever since concentrated efforts for the PAWS organization. “Brenda is the heart and soul of the event and the creative force behind it,” remarked Jeannie Bates, director of PAWS. The theme of each year’s event is up to Melton — and it can be a challenge.

Upon reflection, it seems that her “Love Is…” theme was all around her, just waiting to blossom.

Love is… serendipity

Gryffindor glass signed by Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe

New York Yankees glass signed by Hall-of-Fame manager Joe Torre

Left to right: Shemane and Ted Nugent with 2017 CMGA honorees Lance Corporal Tim Donley and wife Kelly.

At last year’s CMGA, Melton met a couple who enthralled her – Lance Corporal Tim Donley and his wife Kelly. “I was greeting our guests, and I noticed this stunning woman with long, red, hair. She was with Tim, a double amputee.

I said to them, ‘Thank you so much for your service and sacrifice,’ and that was about it. As they went away, I had this lingering feeling that I hadn’t said enough. How do you thank someone for putting their life on the line? I just came face to face with the true meaning of heroism.

We are a free country because these men and women sacrifice every day.”

As Melton watched the couple, she noticed Kelly sitting in Tim’s lap. “They radiated so much love that I kept thinking about them.

There’s a great story there, I thought.” And there was. Several months passed. “I still wasn’t sure of a theme,” recalled Melton. Then I learned that Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw were going to be performing “Love Letters” at the Barbara B. Mann Theater. I remembered that they starred together in the movie “Love Story.” Melton reached out to them through Chef Norman

Hamilton glass signed

by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Left to right: Jay and Patty Baker with Brenda and Phil Melton 114

Opulence Summer 2017

Love and they graciously signed a “Love Story” martini glass. Shortly afterward, her friend Patty Baker, one of the producers for the Broadway smash “Hamilton” called. “Patty had a special martini glass for me – Lin-Manuel Miranda’s signature glass! I could hardly contain myself,” exclaimed Melton. “So now I have this glass, and I’m watching the Tony Awards, and Miranda gets up on stage and says, ‘Love is, love is, love…’ It just hit me. Love Is… That’s our theme! It’s all about love. Love is… so many things. Our veterans, our country, our animals, it is everywhere. The event was built around that.”

Love is…magical Love had struck Melton and she knew she wanted to honor that magnetic couple. “I asked Jeannie Bates at PAWS to tell me more about them,” said Melton. “Kelly was visiting her wounded brother, Mark, at Walter Reed Hospital,” Bates said. “During her visits, Tim and Kelly became friends. Then fell in love. This beautiful relationship arose from tragic circumstances.”

Lance Corporal Donley recalled: “Mark had many visitors as his family was close by. One of these was a beautiful young girl with long hair, gorgeous eyes and an obviously large heart.” Donley begged for a formal introduction (he is that kind of gentleman). “It quickly became apparent that she was not only someone who could understand my injuries, but someone who could understand my heart.” Two years to the date they met, the couple married.

PHOTOS: CHARLIE McDONALD

Melton was thrilled the couple accepted her invitation to the CMGA. “The auction was wonderful,” beamed Melton. “Everyone wanted to stay all night. And afterwards the candy land that Norman Love put on was beyond words.

Florian Belanger from Food Network’s ‘Cupcake Wars’ was there with a full display. It was crazy good!” (See below).

“The CMGA After-Party is gaining a reputation on its own as a can’t-miss event!” enthused Bates. “Patrons were raving about the chefs, who really stepped it up this year to wow everyone. Crave Culinaire and Sea Salt returned this year and were joined by first-time participants Black Salt and Tacos & Tequila.”

Melton concluded: “Love transcends so many things. Just look at the Donleys’ special connection… I’m trying to make a difference in a happy, positive way. We don’t need any more anger. It is more important than ever to remember that love really is all around us.”

A SWEET ENDING TO THE 2017 CMGA Meet the World-Famous Chocolatier and Master Patisserie Duo Who Created the Decadent Fantasy After-Party

By Alona ABBADY Martinez

Chocolatier, Norman Love Norman Love confesses he entered the chocolate business by happenstance. After a highly successful career as Corporate Pastry Chef for all Ritz Carlton Hotels, Love, seeking more time with his family, left when an opportunity arose to produce a baking competition for the Food Network. To supplement his income, he began making chocolates in a 600-square-foot office.

“My focus was handmade, ultra-premium, with an artistic expression that didn’t exist in chocolates. Chocolate always looked the same, no matter if it was expensive or inexpensive,” Norman said.

Artisanal chocolates from Norman Love Confections

In January 2001, just three months after he began, USA Today named Norman Love Confections in the “Top Ten Places To Buy Chocolates for Valentines,” catapulting him into the spotlight. Sixteen years later, Norman Love operates five chocolate salons, two production facilities, and a vibrant ecommerce business that allows his chocolates, created in Southwest Florida, to reach fans around the country.

Master Patisserie, Florian Bellanger Florian Bellanger, acclaimed judge on the hit TV Food Networkshow, “Cupcake Wars”, is Executive Pastry Chef and Co-Owner of Mad-Mac, “The Authentic French Macarons and Madeleines” French cookie and pastry company which he co-founded in 2006.

Bellanger spent much of his afternoons as a child baking for his family. At age 15, he applied to Paris’ prestigious pastry school, the École de Paris des Métiers de la Table, only to be

Norman Love & Florian Bellanger Glass at CMGA rejected because he was too young. A year later he was accepted, overcame a childhood chocolate allergy, and went on to specialize in pastry, ice cream and chocolate.

Prior to Mad-Mac, Bellanger was Fauchon’s executive pastry chef in the U.S. Bellanger was also pastry chef at New York’s 3-Michelin-star iconic eatery Le Bernardin from 1996-2001.

“Everything is possible when beautiful souls gathered together to financially help our veterans in need,” said Chef Bellanger. “As a French macarons maker and pastry chef for over 30 years, I always feel that ‘sweets’ can contribute to make this world a bit ‘sweeter’ and nicer. It was my pleasure to help raise funds for PAWS.” Editors Note: Pastry Chef Florian Bellanger (judge on TV’s “Cupcake Wars”) is a master macaron maker at Mad-Mac. www.madmacnyc.com To learn more about the CMGA, visit: www.naplescmga.com To learn more about PAWS, visit: www.paws.org Summer 2017 Opulence

115

A Little Town Called Lake Worth

BY CARLETON VARNEY

S Carleton Varney

116

OPULENCE Summer 2017

outh of Palm Beach and north of Boynton Beach, tourists to South Florida will find the sleepy little town of Lake Worth where the streets are lined with small cottages painted bright and happy Floridian colors – melon, pineapple, aqua blue and pink. Where terraces and patios have canvas awnings and where gardens are protected by white painted fences, trellis borders and pickets.

Tiffany set, but for sure that set drops into the village on occasion to see what is what in the vintage clothing shops that are part of the town ambiance.

Lake Worth is a quiet beach town community where you’ll find creativity from the ocean to the Intracoastal waters. A visit to Lake Worth is a visit to a picture postcard past!

What To See And Do

Recently the book Cottages of Lake Worth was published and authored by Dean Sherwin, Janice Snearer and Taylor Jones, and I have found the book inspirational in style, as well as in design, with decorating ideas that are modestly costly. Lake Worth may in some respects be a village for the now and new younger set, as you’ll see some of the tattoo generation about Lake and Lucerne avenues where restaurants and small shops flourish. Lake Worth is not a town generally frequented for the Saks Fifth Avenue or the

Hotels on the oceanfront in Lake Worth are the Four Seasons, The Tideline and the Fairfield Inn, a short walk from the Lake Worth casino, beach and restaurants. This is also where you’ll find the boardwalk restaurants on the sea filled with students young and old soaking up the sun.

Here are a number of places to go and see if you wish to explore this charming village:

• L ucerne Avenue going west from the sea boasts many fun restaurants, one being La Bonne Bouche. Fresh croissants are baked each morning by the chef/owner Eric Regnier from Nice. For luncheon, my pick was a duck cooked to perfection (and I truly mean perfection) – with a crispy outside in the French tradition.

• J ust up the street, you’ll find Rustico Italiano where pastas of all descriptions await those who enjoy the flavors of Venice, Firenze, Roma and Sicily!

• T he Lake Worth Art League is worth a visit, as is the Art Shop.

•A rtists from all over the world gravitate to the village for street painting festivals, and it is a must-see!.

•H ermes, Gucci, and Pucci vintage designs at Judy King’s consignment shop, Fashion Xchange, located at 702 Lake Avenue since 1989, is a popular spot with the Palm Beach and Wellington ladies who often consign gowns, dresses and bags never worn or carried.

• An evening is a dinner at Little Munich at 806 Lake Avenue, operated by husband and wife Gabi and Peter Kachler. This restaurant serves bratwurst and wiener schnitzel, the best homemade streusel outside of München, as well as German beers. Try Bitburger Premium Pils, one of my favorites.

• L ake Worth is always an art adventure and my favorite place to visit is Artisans on the Avenue at 630 Lake Avenue. The artist on duty when I last visited was Ebba TinWin, a German lady with a big smile who is a collage artist, painter and a maker of sea glass jewelry.

•D akota Design Studio is represented by Gail Johnson who crafts dramatic rubber wearable jewelry.

• R obert A. Hunter’s woodwork designs are award winning, from chopping and bread boards to bowls and serving pieces.

• John McCoy pottery is on display at Artisans on the Avenue and his talents are many, many.

• Lake Worth is home to a theatre where local on-stage productions are popular, and home to the Palm Beach Arts Council located in a white art deco style building that is a town treasure. Here, exhibitions are always in view and local artists, as well as out-oftown-painters, often show their work.

When visiting the sleepy beach village of Lake Worth, you’ll find art in bloom, cuisine in full bloom, and Florida fashion very much part of the culture.

Summer 2017 Opulence

117

Wicked Good Architecture The Historic Homes Of Salem, Massachusetts

BY Todd R. Sciore

Gardner-Pingree House, 1804, Salem, Massachusetts Photo credit: Liz Kelleher, www.flickr.com/photos/lizkdc/ 118

Opulence Summer 2017

for rich Federalists…”

Samuel McIntire Historic District

W

hen most people think of Salem, Massachusetts, the first thing that immediately comes to mind is the infamous 17th century witch trials that took place in the area during a short but chaotic period from February of 1692 to May of 1693. The writing of author Nathaniel Hawthorne runs a respectable second place. While the religious fervor caused centuries ago by delusional accusers and overzealous prosecutors coupled with Hawthorne’s acclaimed brand of “dark romanticism” have spawned an omnipresent marketing campaign, for discerning visitors looking for something less touristy, Salem also boasts a picturesque architectural charm - along what some refer to as one of the most beautiful streets in America. This display harkens back to when, as author Robert Booth notes in Death of an Empire, “The world’s wealth, channeled into the streets and countinghouses, raised up all classes in Salem…several mansions went up on Chestnut Street, the new boulevard

Deriving its name from one of Salem’s most notable citizens, the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 when two prior historic areas (the Chestnut Street Historic District and the Federal Street Area Historic District) were combined with other structures on nearby side streets to form the largest district in the city.

This district contains over 400 buildings, however, it is Chestnut Street’s concentration of lovingly preserved Federal Period residences that is clearly the crown jewel as architect John Willand eloquently states on his blog “…Salem’s Chestnut Street is undeniably a special place – gracious, refined, imposing, and yes, certainly beautiful.

The street is historically as well as aesthetically significant…superlatives aside, the street merits all the attention it gets.”

While the Federal design period (1780-1820) is predominantly represented, other classic styles including Italian and Greek Revival also sporadically dot the streetscape, however,

Chair design: Samuel McIntire

Summer 2017 Opulence

119

to the casual eye, there is a seamless continuity amongst the structures and as Willand indicates, “The street’s boulevard-like width, towering street trees, ornate fencing, period street lamps, and brick sidewalks…complement the architecture and underpin the pleasing impression”. Willand is spot on in his description and for this writer, no sooner did I turn the corner onto Chestnut Street when

Samuel McIntire first house signage. See close-up (lower right).

the subconscious desire to live there took hold.

Samuel McIntire

Samuel McIntire

Samuel McIntire (1757-1811) was a native son to Salem and was initially an ornamental woodcarver by trade with a sheaf of wheat being one of his favored design elements as it best represented the then prosperity of Salem and its successful merchant tradesmen. McIntire was a self-taught architect who eventually set up shop at 31 Summer Street (near the intersection of Summer and Chestnut streets) in 1786. However, it was circa 1780 when he began to make a name for himself as the preeminent designer amongst Salem’s elite maritime merchant class which included none other than Elias Hasket Derby,

who in his day was the wealthiest businessman in Salem due to his success in trading with China. Obviously, work performed for Derby and his extended family propelled McIntire’s career, however, he chose to work primarily in the New England area where Samuel often oversaw the ornamentation

Samuel McIntire (1757-1811) was a native son to Salem and was initially an ornamental woodcarver by trade with a sheaf of wheat being one of his favored design elements as it best represented the then prosperity of Salem and its successful merchant tradesmen.

Salem, Massachusetts, Circa 1801.

Carving Attributed to Samuel McIntire.

Primary Wood: Mahogany Secondary Woods: Birch, Pine Provenance: Probably Jerathamiel (1747-1827) and Sarah (Ropes) Pierce (1752-1796), Salem, Massachusetts; Sarah (Pierce) Nichols (1780-1835), daughter; Israel Sack, Inc., New York.

Reference: See Israel Sack, Inc., American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, vol. VII, p. 1729, no. P4820. Please also see Dean Lahikainen, Samuel McIntire: Carving an American Style, pp. 253-255 for a discussion of the McIntire furniture in the Pierce-Nichols house. www.incollect.com/listings/furniture/seating/samuel-mcintire-federal-hepplewhiteupholstered-window-seat-126297 120

Opulence Summer 2017

Architect sketch of the Pierce-Nichols House

Pierce-Nichols House detail

at the shop while his brothers Joseph and Angier McIntire were at the job sites. In addition to the aforementioned Derby residence, other notable examples of his designs throughout Salem are the PierceNichols and Benjamin Hawkes residences, the Ropes Mansion, along with public buildings such as the renowned Hamilton Hall facility.

If you are like me with an appreciation for early American architecture, and would prefer a colonial era home accented with authentic period furniture over new construction, take a leisurely stroll down Chestnut Street and some of its nearby thoroughfares. The collective streetscapes superbly capture the grand essence of Salem’s early seafaring heyday, when trading merchants were the business elite - long before shipping gave way to all things dark and witchy.

Despite his notoriety for home design, after 1790 he focused his abilities on wood carving “to complement the architecture” as noted in Samuel McIntire: Carving an American Style by Dean T. Lahikainen. His talents also transcended to sculpture, carving figureheads for some of Salem’s sailing vessels and furniture making. So much so that examples of furniture whose woodwork is attributed to McIntire are firmly ensconced in museums, and private collections and pieces can command attention grabbing prices when they occasionally come to auction (at a Christie’s auction in 2011, a mahogany side chair with hand carving attributed to McIntire and formerly owned by Elias Hasket Derby hammered down for $662,500.00 setting a then world record for Federal period furniture).

Plan of the town of Salem in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, from actual surveys, made in the years 1796 & 1804; with the improvements and alterations since that period as surveyed. 1820 Jonathan Peele Saunders.

Ropes Mansion

Sources: Samuel McIntire: Carving an American Style by Dean T. Lahikainen, 2007 Peabody Essex Museum.

Death of an Empire, The Rise and Murderous Fall of Salem, America’s Richest City by Robert Booth, 2011, Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin’s Press, NY. Pg 25. www.wikipedia.com; www.wikimedia.org • www.salemweb.com/tales/ mcintire.php English: Portrait of Samuel McIntire, c. 1786, pastel portrait attributed to Benjamin Blyth (1746-1811) of Salem, Massachusetts. Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.

Summer 2017 Opulence

121

Medical News

Unique Womb-Like Device Could Give Extremely Premature Babies A Precious Chance In lamb studies, researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have designed a fluid-filled environment to bridge critical time from mother’s womb to the outside world.

A unique womb-like environment designed by pediatric researchers could transform care for extremely premature babies by mimicking the prenatal fluidfilled environment to give the tiniest newborns a precious few weeks to develop their lungs and other organs.

“Our system could prevent the severe morbidity suffered by extremely premature infants by potentially offering a medical technology that does not currently exist,” said study leader Alan W. Flake, M.D., a fetal surgeon and director of the Center for Fetal Research in the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Dr. Flake and colleagues reported on preclinical studies of their extra-uterine support device in the recent April issue of Nature Communications. They tested and monitored effects on fetal lambs, in which prenatal lung development is very similar to that occurring in humans.

A Closer Look At The Extreme Need Of the one in 10 U.S. births that are premature (younger than 37 weeks gestational age), about 30,000 per year are critically preterm — younger than 26 weeks. Extreme prematurity is the nation’s leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity, accounting for one-third of all infant deaths and onehalf of all cases of cerebral palsy attributed to prematurity.

Neonatal care practices have improved overall survival of premature infants and

122

OPULENCE Summer 2017

This premature lamb is thriving in the artificial womb. Lambs have prenatal lung development very similar to human babies. have pushed the limits of viability to 22 to 23 weeks of gestation. At that age, an infant weighs below 600 grams — little more than a pound — and has a 30 to 50 percent chance of survival. But this survival comes at a high price in quality of life, with a 90 percent risk of morbidity, from chronic lung disease or other complications of organ immaturity. Survivors face lifelong disability.

How The Device Works The innovative system uses a unique fluidfilled container attached to custom-designed machines that provide physiologic support. The fetal lambs grow in a temperature-controlled, near-sterile environment, breathing amniotic fluid as they normally do in the womb, their hearts pumping blood through their umbilical cord into a gas exchange machine outside the bag.

Electronic monitors measure vital signs, blood flow and other crucial functions.

Researchers describe the evolution of their system over three years, through a series of four prototypes, beginning with a glass in-

cubator tank, and progressing to the current device.

The eight preterm Alan W. Flake, M.D. lambs tested in the most recent prototype were physiologically equivalent to a 23- or 24-week-gestation human infant.

The current system mimics life in the uterus as closely as possible, building on knowledge from previous neonatal research.

There is no external pump to drive circulation, because even gentle artificial pressure can fatally overload an underdeveloped heart, and there is no ventilator, because the immature lungs are not yet ready to do their work of breathing in atmospheric oxygen. Instead, the baby’s heart pumps blood via the umbilical cord into the system’s low-resistance external oxygenator that substitutes for the mother’s placenta in exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Amniotic fluid, produced in the laboratory, flows into and out of the bag. “Fetal lungs

are designed to function in fluid, and we simulate that environment here, allowing the lungs and other organs to develop, while supplying nutrients and growth factors,” said fetal physiologist Marcus G. Davey, Ph.D., who designed the system’s inflow and outflow apparatus.

Why This Research Is More Successful Than Others In The Past Previous researchers have investigated versions of an artificial placenta in animal models, but pumpless systems have achieved a maximum duration of 60 hours, and the animals have sustained brain damage. The new system has operated up to 670 hours (28 days) with some animals, which remained healthy. The lambs showed normal breathing and swallowing, opened their eyes, grew wool, became more active, and had normal growth, neurological function and organ maturation.

decade from now, extremely premature infants would continue to develop in chambers filled with amniotic fluid, rather than lying in incubators, attached to ventilators.

Added to the desired health benefits, there could be a large economic impact as well, reducing the estimated $43 billion annual medical costs of prematurity in the U.S. Dr. Flake stresses that the team does not aim to extend viability to an earlier period

than the current mark of 23 weeks. Before that point, limitations of physical size and physiologic functioning would impose unacceptably high risks. However, he added, “This system is potentially far superior to what hospitals can currently do for a 23-week-old baby born at the cusp of viability. This could establish a new standard of care for this subset of extremely premature infants.”

The lambs shown below, in the unique womb-like environment designed by pediatric researchers, showed normal breathing and swallowing, opened their eyes, grew wool, became more active, and had normal growth, neurological function and organ maturation.

The program team brings together neonatologists, fetal medicine specialists, respiratory therapists, perfusionists and others. The initial impetus for the program came from CHOP research fellow Emily Partridge, M.D., Ph.D., who experienced the challenges of caring for critically premature infants. “Those infants really struck a chord with me,” she said. She researched existing scientific literature, and five years ago proposed to Dr. Flake the pilot project.

Next Steps The researchers will continue to evaluate and refine the system, and will need to downsize it for human infants, who are one-third the size of the infant lambs used in the current study. If their animal results translate into clinical care, Dr. Flake envisions that a

Summer 2017 Opulence

123

International Issues

Making War Crimes Unprofitable:

The Sentry and George Clooney Target Famine

By Erick Rodriguez

Although the notion of government forces and armed ethnic factions raiding civilian villages may seem foreign, it is the harsh reality of daily life in South Sudan. In response to this humanitarian crisis, George Clooney and co-founder John Prendergast have launched an initiative through the group known as The Sentry, a team of analysts, regional experts, and financial forensic investigators that works to actively disrupt the corrupt networks that fund and profit from genocide or other mass atrocities in Africa. In a press conference for The Sentry, Clooney began by summarizing the history of South Sudan. He explained that, “In 2011, South Sudan voted overwhelmingly for independence from the government of Sudan, and its President, Omar-Al Bashir, a man who is charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court.” When the UN recognized South Sudan, the international community hoped that the partition would bring an end to the years of violence that pervaded the region while ethnic factions fought for control.

Clooney asserted the harsh realities of contemporary South Sudan. “Unfortunately, the past five years, South Sudan’s leaders have engaged in much of the same behavior, including mass atrocities on its citizens, starvation, and rape. All while plundering the state’s resources, and enriching themselves and their families.” In a bold revelation, Clooney declared that he was involved in, “a two-year undercover investigation

by The Sentry, using forensic accountants and experts formerly from the FBI and Treasury department.” As the ongoing famine continues to deprive citizens of the necessary resources to feed themselves, Clooney proclaimed that the “irrefutable evidence” gathered by The Sentry will provide critical insight into the cause of the problem and, “provide solutions to help end this criminal behavior to protect innocent civilians.”

Throughout the process of the secession of South Sudan, the United States was heavily involved in ensuring that the safety of citizens was prioritized. “Since 2014, the U.S. has given $1.5 billion in aid to South Sudan,” acknowledged Clooney, imploring that “the U.S. and

124

OPULENCE Summer 2017

the world recognizes that South Sudan cannot become a failed state, not only because of the humanitarian crisis, but because we have seen the influences that can take hold in a failed state.” With mindful forethought, Clooney weighed the policy implications of inaction, concluding that “we can John Prendergast, George Clooney, and Sudanese elder either take action now, or we can spend the next decade picking up Not On Our Watch, a non-profit against mass atrocities called the Enough Project, the mess.” and the Center for Advanced Defense StudIn a foreword to The Sentry’s report, the ies, a data-analysis non-profit organization. renowned actor and his co-founder advise that the key to eliminating the famine is to Prendergast synopsized the dire issues plaguhold accountable “the system of international ing South Sudan, namely that its leaders “have banks, businesses, arms brokers, real estate learned that rape, child soldier recruitment, firms, and lawyers who…facilitate the violent and mass killings are not enough to trigger kleptocracy that South Sudan has become,” by any meaningful accountability measures.” As halting the liquidation of stolen assets and the to the reason for the continued human rights subsequent use of these assets internationally. violations, he attested that “what’s missing is international leverage,” and proposes creating such leverage by using “precision-guided financial policy tools normally reserved for countering terrorism, fighting organized crime, for halting the proliferation of nuclear weapons.” Prendergast further suggests the use of “readily available anti-laundering measures…with targeted sanctions focused on the top officials in the regime and their international facilitators.” Simply put, The Sentry infers Sudanese woman waiting in food line from its evidence that the keys to stopping The UN reports that over 3.5 million South the famine in South Sudan are governmentSudanese have been displaced by govern- enacted sanctions on the state’s top officials, ment military raids that seize the fruits of enforcing penalties on banks that enable arduous agricultural labor. “War has been money laundering by the designated officials, hell for South Sudan’s people, but it has and sanctions on the financial institutions that been very lucrative for the country’s leaders facilitate their acquisition of assets. In light and their collaborators in the international of the evidence uncovered by The Sentry, financial system,” professed John Prender- George Clooney reinforces the importance gast, speaking for The Sentry. Prendergast of retributive justice, conclusively emphasizformed the partnership with Clooney in ing that “real leverage for peace and human 2015 with the collaboration of Clooney’s rights will come when the people who human rights advocacy non-profit called benefit from war will pay a price for the damage they cause.”

Paradigm tax group Quality Representation & Service to Fisher Island Residents for the Past 20 Years.

We now offer nationwide capabilities with 31 offices across the United States.

Our Expertise is your success!

Real Property, Personal Property and Complex Industrial Tax representation.

Federal Tax Credits/Local Abatements Available for the Rehabilitation of Historic Structures.

Property Tax Adjusters, Inc. Bay Point Office Tower, 4770 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1100 Miami, Florida 33137 Phone 305.576.0033 ptgmiami@paradigmtax.com www.paradigmtax.com

Gary A. Appel, Esq. Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker Senior Managing Consultant - Principal

Adam C. Cappel Senior Managing Consultant - Principal

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

I

An INTERNATIONAL Issue that Transcends History

f you’ve ever been to the ruins of Pompeii in Italy, a historical site on the United Nations World Heritage list, you would find the remains of Lupanar, a brothel with erotic depictions of the services that were provided in a way that is unusually reminiscent of the menu at your local fast-food restaurant.

During the relevant time period, which would be in the earliest decades of the first millennia, sailors and soldiers would often frequent the brothels of the ports they arrived in after long sea voyages. These premises were typically staffed by slaves of Oriental or Greek origin with no real alternatives for work. Due to a common language barrier, visitors of such brothels were usually unable to speak the local language and express their desires, leading to the creation of what are now historical remains of an ancient practice.

THE PERVASIVENESS Can we really call sex slavery an ancient practice? Perhaps in the United States the idea of a brothel is one that seems foreign to many because of the outright illegality of prostitution in America. However, Pompeii’s historical example illustrates that the pervasiveness of human trafficking is ena126

BY ERICK RODRIGUEZ

OPULENCE Summer 2017

bled by an underlying cultural acceptance for a practice that has persisted to this day.

Shamere McKenzie, CEO of the non-profit Sun Gate Foundation and human trafficking survivor, sheds light on how modern popular culture subliminally contributes to the glorification of human trafficking. In her work, she partakes in speaking engagements to share her experience and fulfill the Foundation’s mission of providing aid to survivors of human trafficking through scholarships and financial aid for educational purposes.

During one of her speaking engagements, McKenzie described how music, legislation, and cultural norms can facilitate acceptance of the harsh reality that human trafficking is a problem that continues to exist despite efforts to stop it. For example, McKenzie highlights the prominence of references glorifying “pimps” and “bitches” in certain musical genres that make it easy and even desirable for individuals to accept trafficking when phrased in ways that conceal the true nature of the horrid practice. As a survivor of sexual enslavement, McKenzie further asserts that businesses like strip clubs serve as havens for forced prostitution. She claims the problem is exacerbated by the

way in which U.S. laws punish prostitution and make it difficult for victims of sex slavery to seek help from law enforcement for fear of being incarcerated. Finally, one of the most common issues with eradicating the issue of the human slave trade is the social psychological phenomenon known as the bystander effect, or the apathy expressed by individuals who are aware of the plight of a victim but do not offer any means of assistance. In McKenzie’s case, it took the help of one concerned individual to shelter

the infamous slave trade. Among some of the most notorious epicenters throughout the world for human trafficking are Southeast Asia, China, Russia, Eastern Europe, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, and India.

Human trafficking is defined by the U.N. as, â&#x20AC;&#x153;recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud, or coercion.â&#x20AC;? Trafficking, particularly sex trafficking, has been a pervasive issue throughout the history of mankind that has eluded a reliable panacea due to government inability to wholly enforce the law. In countries without reliable law enforcement, those who engage in sex trafficking are enabled by the chaotic environment that makes lawlessness so common.

Even so, the problem continues to exist in developed countries due to halfhearted efforts by governments and citizens to put a stop to human trafficking.

NEED FOR MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION To put the relevance of the issue into perspective, Ashton Kutcher, co-founder of a company that builds software to fight human trafficking called Thorn, testified in front of Congress on February 15, 2017, urging officials to pass meaningful legislation on the issue. As humankind continues to progress into an era where the protection of fundamental rights becomes a more widespread norm, the plight of those who still face the deprivation of their basic liberties should not merely be relegated as a relic of the past like the historic ruins of Pompeii.

her from the brutal onslaught of a greedy pimp who had uprooted her from the success of her academic career and forced her into the world of sex slavery for 18 months.

IN BROAD DAYLIGHT Human trafficking is not always so concealed from public life in other countries.

In his book Blood and Earth: Modern Slavery, Ecocide, and the Secret to Saving the World, human rights activist Kevin Bales provides a more holistic perspective on the issue through his narration of firsthand experi-

ences with victims of human trafficking and child slavery. Describing his treacherous visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bales explains how men and women are enslaved by militias and the Congolese army to perform forced labor.

He elaborates on the issue, proclaiming that women and girls are targeted during attacks on villages due to the cultural objectification of women that has become the heinous norm in the Congo. However, Africa is not the only continent known for

Erick Rodriguez has a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Central Florida where he was the human trafficking research fellow. He is currently a 2L at the University of Miami School of Law.

Summer 2017 Opulence

127

Condo Law

By Roberto C. Blanch

Association Boards Should Spread the Load

by Relying on Committees

A

ssociation board members give up a great deal of their time and lend their varying expertise to help their communities run as smoothly and effectively as possible.

Given that so much is asked of the directors, it is important that they take appropriate steps to delegate responsibilities to committees comprised of association members.

For most community associations, the benefits of involving committees are extremely worthwhile. Not only do they create a forum for the implementation and enforcement of vital policies and decisions, they also serve as ideal incubators for prospective future board members.

By their very nature, committees comprised of volunteer owners and residents should have a good understanding of the best policies and practices for their community. They may be ideally suited to oversee matters that involve the collection of information from the owners and the subsequent assessing of the data in order to make strong recommendations for suggested solutions.

Association boards should take the time to closely consider the use of different types of committees and their intended roles and responsibilities. Most association governing documents will include provisions governing the establishment of volunteer committees and how their decisions will be enacted. When first establishing committees, associations would be well advised to consult with

128

OPULENCE Summer 2017

Roberto C. Blanch

highly qualified legal counsel to help ensure their proper establishment and operation.

Some of the most popular types of committees are those overseeing architectural control (especially for single-family home communities), member communications, association finances, social events, and fines and enforcement.

By utilizing committees and working to see that they are consistently staffed by dedicated association members who are eager to take part, associations are able to help ensure that they operate as efficiently and effectively as possible while also avoiding overburdening their board members with too many issues and responsibilities.

Attorney Roberto C. Blanch focuses on community association law as a partner with Siegfried, Rivera, Hyman, Lerner, De La Torre, Mars & Sobel, P.A. The firm maintains offices in Coral Gables as well as in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and it represents more than 800 community associations. www.srhl-law.com, www.FloridaHOALawyerBlog.com, 305-442-3334.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re only as good as the counsel you keep.

Legal Counsel to Community Associations Since 1977

R

Offices in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Main Office: Suntrust Plaza, 201 Alhambra Circle, Suite 1100, Coral Gables, FL 33134 800-737-1390 | www.srhl-law.com Summer 2017

OPULENCE

97

130

Opulence Summer 2017

Portfolio & Real Estate Guide 5801 Moss Ranch Road | Pinecrest, FL Priced at $7,999,999 Agents: Tomi Rose 786.299.1949 Elizabeth Delgado 305.790.2806

3 0 5 . 6 1 5 . 1 3 7 6 | o i rf l . c o m

Summer 2017 Opulence

131

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

Contemporary Estate Pinecrest 5801 Moss Ranch Rd. Pinecrest, FL 33156 9 Bedrooms 10 Baths / 3 Half Baths 15,704 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $7,999,999

This extraordinary custom home completed in 2014 offers endless entertaining with a pool, 2 summer kitchens, and much more. www.5801MossRanchRoad.com Agents: Tomi Rose (786) 229-1949 Elizabeth Delgado (305) 790-2806

Modern Tropical Oasis Pinecrest 5745 SW 94th Street Pinecrest, FL 33156 9 Bedrooms 10 Baths / 2 Half Baths 17,714 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $7,599,000

Two lush acres are the setting for this contemporary masterpiece built in 2015 with 3 master suites and indoor/outdoor living. www.5745sw94thstreet.com Agent: Marianna Dubinsky (305) 432-7555

Tuscan Estate Masterpiece Boca Raton 373 Mizner Lake Estates Boca Raton, FL 33432 5 Bedrooms 8 Baths 7,387 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $4,599,900

Built on the grounds of the world renowned Boca Raton Resort, was this estate â&#x20AC;&#x153;Modelâ&#x20AC;?.

The ultimate lifestyle. www.373miznerlakeestatesdrive.com Agent: David Hammond (908) 208.7120

132

Opulence Summer 2017

Sou t h Flor i da 305.615.1376 | oirfl .com

Income Producing Duplex Key Biscayne 290 Fernwood Road Key Biscayne, FL 33149 6 Bedrooms 4 Baths / 2 Half Baths 4,094 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $3,097,000

Enjoy great cash flow from this fully rented duplex in the heart of Key Biscayne. Each 3/2.5 unit features its own private pool. wwww.290FernwoodRd.com Agent: Pamela Diaz De Leon (305) 720-8439

Two-Story Combined Residence Downtown Miami 1100 Biscayne Blvd. # 4905-6 Miami, FL 33132 5 Bedrooms 5 Baths / 4 Deeded Parking Spaces 5,475 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $2,990,000

Soaring 20 foot ceilings reveal stunning Miami water views from this custom residence in the sky at the elegant Marquis. www.1100BiscayneBlvd4906.com/ Agent: Tomi Rose (786) 229-1949

Balinese Inspired Miami Shores 8932 NE 10th Ct. Miami, FL 33138 4 Bedrooms 3 Baths / 1 Half Bath 3,830 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $2,250,000

This stunning, Balinese inspired home embraces the best in relaxed, inside/out luxury living. www.8932NE10THCT.com Agent: Kelly Lyles (305) 904-0824

Summer 2017 Opulence

133

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

Grove at Grand Bay Eye on Architecture

What

by Jill Patterson

do you get when you combine an A-list architect, a prolific South Florida landscape architect and a developer more interested in creating neighborhood and legacy than wringing out the last dollar from his project? If you’re lucky, you might get a project as breathtaking as Grove At Grand Bay, the first new residential development in 10 years in Coconut Grove.

The cast breaks down as follows. Enter the rockstar, Danish-born Bjarke Ingels whose risk taking and creative problem solving have taken the world by storm. Other projects include Two World Trade Center and the Google Headquarters. His answer to this historic Coconut Grove waterfront site on North Bayshore Drive are the two elegant winding towers which each twist at a 38 degree angle allowing for fabulous views from both buildings as they interact and look around each other. From floors 3 to 17 the protruding floorplates are offset by 3 feet, creating a brise-soleil effect for more shade and reduced heat gain. The recipient of several engineering awards, these LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certified glass “Twisted Sisters”, as the locals refer to them, are supported by their core and by giant concrete pillars which run through the interior of the units. All the units are 12 feet tall with 12 foot sliding glass doors (the tallest hurricane proof doors made) and offer 12 foot deep terraces with summer kitchens.

Landscape architect, Raymond Jungles, has re-created the feel of the leafiest parts of the Coconut Grove with over 500 native trees and 15,000 plants set in and around Ingels organic forms of porous keystone and oolite. A spiraling porte-cochere connecting both buildings shades visitors and doubles playfully as a planter from above.

Developer David Martin of Terra deeply understands the heart and soul of Coconut Grove, and its long history of artists, activists, writers and iconoclasts. His mission was to create something of value that spoke to that legacy. Inside the project he has added a huge art collection valued at more than $1.2 million.

The result of these combined efforts is a place so livable, so uplifting, one can feel the thought and care poured into the project at every turn. Other amenities include the rooftop pools, as well as a ground level lap pool, fitness and spinning rooms, day spa, private dining room, butler service, pet spa, and children’s area. With only 96 residences, the developer only used 25% of his allowed density. If you are looking for a unique address like no other, if you love the natural world and have an appreciation for great art and design, Grove at Grand Bay may have everything you are looking for.

134

Opulence Summer 2017

Sou t h Flor i da

One of a Kind Coconut Grove 2675 S Bayshore Dr. #401S Miami, FL 33131 6 Bedrooms 6 Baths 4,492 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $4,999,999

Live in arguably the most architecturally significant residential building in South Florida, designed by Bjarke Ingels who is transforming the NYC skyline (Two World Trade Center / Googleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Headquarters).

Located in the South Tower, this 6 bedroom, 6 bath residence with 12ft deep wraparound terraces with summer kitchen offers 180 degree direct ocean and park views. Luxury amenities include day spa, fitness and spinning, 2 rooftop pools, butler service, private chef, 24-hour concierge and pet spa. www.GroveAtGrandBay401.com Agent: Giancarlo Butron (786) 316-2292

Summer 2017 Opulence

135

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

Ft. Lauderdale Revisited Neighborhood Spotlight

by Jill Patterson

A

lthough a mere 29 miles separate them, the cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale could not be more different. As the old joke goes, people live in Miami because it is so conveniently close to the United States. With little of the Latin influence, Fort Lauderdale is decidedly American. And while the city lacks the international glitz of Miami, Fort Lauderdale is increasingly developing its own unique, relaxed vibe and many people are finding it a tranquil option, with more ample parking, easy-access transportation, flourishing arts scene, decent shopping, higher education, beautiful beaches, and housing, in many cases, at one-third the price of Miami.

Lots of developers who moved north to escape the soaring land prices in Miami have done well in Fort Lauderdale. Auberge Beach Residences, a combined effort between developers The Related Group and Fortune International Group, is a luxury two tower pre-construction beachfront project in Fort Lauderdale which is nearly sold out. Prices hovered around at $1,050 per square foot. By comparison, new oceanfront projects in Miami Beach like Eighty-Seven Park or the Surf Club Four Seasons are selling for $2,500-$3,500psf.

In the booming North Beach Village area of Fort Lauderdale, notable new projects are Paramount Fort Lauderdale, the W Fort Lauderdale (a redesign), the Gale Resort and Residences, Adagio and the Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale.

Simultaneous to developers moving north, is the Fort Lauderdale population growth and/or redistribution.

While wealthy retirees have been drawn to the beach with luxury projects like Auberge swapping their large homes in the burbs, millennials

136

Opulence Summer 2017

FATVillage Art Fair | Photo courtesy of C&I Studios.

have been moving to the urban areas in Downtown.

It always starts with the artists. The seed of Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s revival was probably FATVillage, Fort Lauderdale’s arts community that unlike Miami’s Wynwood, still has some artists who can afford studio space there. FAT stands for Flagler Arts Technology.

Stop off at Brew Urban Café at NW 1st Avenue for the hippest latte in Fort Lauderdale. A few years ago the area was full of warehouses and auto shops, now it is attracting artisan local business owners who like the vibe.

Lots of new infrastructure is helping to lay the groundwork for continued growth.

Tourism is the economic engine and about 16M come to Broward County every year.

The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood international Airport just got direct service to Dubai with Emirates, and it is in the midst of a 2.3 billion upgrade, including new runway, new restaurants and concourse, and renovated terminals and skywalk. All Aboard Florida (Brightline), the new high-

speed rail from Miami to Orlando, is well under way with construction at its station at NW 2nd Avenue near Flagler Village. The Wave, an electric streetcar system, will be accepting bids for construction late this summer and plans to start building in 2018.

The project will connect the station to other stops in Downtown and to the Sun Trolley bus system. Port Everglades is ranked second among cruise ports worldwide with more than $3.8 million passengers in 2016. In addition to all the increased infrastructure, the business environment is growing with need for more office, retail, hospitality and industrial warehouse space.

All of those commercial sectors have seen healthy growth over the last few years.

In summary, Fort Lauderdale seems to have rebooted itself out of the downturn more slowly than Miami, but perhaps more stably, with a growing population who live and work in the area. With all the new initiatives for existing or new infrastructure, there is obvious upside for investors and the entire community.

Sou t h Flor i da 305.615.1376 | oirfl .com

Mediterranean Gem Coral Gables 1209 Asturia Avenue Coral Gables, FL 33134 5 Bedrooms 4 Baths / 1 Half Bath 4,266 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $2,250,000

Perfectly located just blocks from Granada Golf Course, this custom built, sophisticated 2006 home features 18 foot ceilings. www.1209AsturiaAve.com Agent: Elizabeth Delgado (305) 790-2806

Las Olas River House Ft Lauderdale 333 Las Olas Way #310 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths / 1 Half Bath 3,223 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $1,869,000

Las Olas River House residence in the sky exudes opulence. Private elevator and river view from the unit. www.333LasOlasWay.com Agent: Tomi Rose (786) 229-1949

Ritz-Carlton Residence Bal Harbour 10295 Collins Avenue #710/711 Bal Harbour, FL 33154 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths / 1 Half Bath 1,147 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $1,859,000

Own at the Ritz. This perfectly situated oceanfront fully furnished condo-hotel unit may be enjoyed or leased out at your pleasure. www.10295CollinsAvenue710.com Agents: Pamela Diaz De Leon (305) 720-8439 Monica Gonzalez (786) 693-3568 Summer 2017 Opulence

137

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

Build Your Dream Home Pinecrest 9100 SW 57th Ave. Miami, FL 33156 2 Lots / Land Site A 35,000 SQ.Ft / Site B 37, 867 SQ. FT.

Listed at: $1,590,000 Build your dream home with South Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading Design-Build construction company, Pioneer Inter-Development, Inc. www.9100sw57thAve.com Agent: Marianna Dubinsky (305) 432-7555

Golf Course Home Miami Shores 609 NE 105th St. Miami Shores, FL 33138 4 Bedrooms 3 Baths / 1 Half Bath 3,741 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $1,389,888

Beautifully upgraded and within walking distance to the most prestigious school in Miami Shores, Miami Country Day. www.609ne105th.com Agent: Wren Chambers (954) 775-4424

Golf Course Community Boca Raton 21477 Burnside Ct. Boca Raton, FL 33433 4 Bedrooms 4 Baths / 1 Half Bath 4,368 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $1,200,000

Live in Opulence! Boca Grove is one of South Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s affluent guard-gated, luxury residential communities. www.21477BurnsideCt.com Agents: Tomi Rose (786) 229-1949 Glenn Roderman: (561) 809-9199 138

Opulence Summer 2017

Sou t h Flor i da 305.615.1376 | oirfl .com

Tommy Bahamas Style Home Boca Raton 7841 Afton Villa Ct. Boca Raton, FL 33433 4 Bedrooms 3 Baths / 1 Half Bath 4,098 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $1,000,000

This beautifully renovated home features high ceilings, open floor plan, chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen. www.7841AftonVillaCourt.com Agent: Tomi Rose (786) 229-1949

Income Producing Duplex Miami 500 NW 19 Ave. Miami, FL 33125

2,583 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $999,000

Near Marlin Stadium, this entirely renovated duplex boasts a 10% cap rate. www.500nw19Ave.com Agent: Monica Gonzalez (786) 693-3568

Private Island North Bay Island 7431 Center Bay Dr. North Bay Village, FL 33141 3 Bedrooms 3 Baths 3,579 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $950,000

Secluded custom home situated on coveted North Bay Island, a private guard gated peninsula. Features spa master bath, pool, chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen, marble & hardwood floors. www.7431centerbaydrive.com Agent: Tomi Rose (786) 229-1949 Summer 2017 Opulence

139

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

Residence at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove 3400 SW 27 Ave #506 Miami, FL 33133 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths / 1 Half Bath 1,540 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $869,000

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, setting the standard for luxury & impeccable service throughout the world. www.3400sw27av506.com Agent: Mary Handel (305) 496-4254

Penthouse at the Beach Miami Beach 1330 West Ave #LP 3504 Miami Beach, FL 33139 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths 1,084 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $765,000

Best line in the building! Come see the incredible views from the Penthouse. Highly sought after 04 line with amazing ocean and city views from every room. www.1330westave3504.com Agent: Adi Zilberberg (305) 209-5017

Paramount Bay Residence Miami 2020 N Bayshore Dr. #1204 Miami, FL 33137 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths 1,135 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $714,000

Enjoy the view of the bay and Miami Beach skyline from this turnkey Paramount Bay Residence. Offered fully furnished with upgrades like porcelain floors throughout. www.2020paramountbay1204.com/ Agent: Cristiano Soares (305) 439-0926 140

Opulence Summer 2017

Sou t h Flor i da 305.615.1376 | oirfl .com

Developer Profile: Sustainability in Coconut Grove

M

by Jill Patterson

eet Jeremy Waks. A Miami native, at 32 Jeremy is the principal of Oak Ventures who partnered with Urban Atlantic Group to create Arbor. Arbor is Coconut Grove’s latest luxury development with 52 residences located at 3034 Oak Avenue located just behind the outdoor mall, Cocowalk.

Designed by Behar Font & Partners, Arbor is a mix of lofts, townhomes and penthouses, offering bright and spacious units with floor to ceiling windows and 10 foot ceilings.

Arbor Coconut Grove • Number of Floors: 5 • Total Units: 52 • Bedrooms: 2–3 • Sq. Ft. Range: 1,466–2,010 SQ FT • Developer: Urban Atlantic Group - Oak Ventures • Architect: Behar Font & Partners • Price Starting at $799,000

JP: Luxury new construction sales have slowed considerably in Miami, what made you want to go ahead with this project?

JW: Coconut Grove is an amazing neighborhood. It has all the things people look for - walkability, waterfront, shops and dining, parks. There are activities on the water like sailing and paddleboarding.

Coconut Grove is also centrally located in Miami so everything is within reach, Downtown, South Miami, Miami Beach.

The Grove is really an end user market. It’s people who want to live here.

JP: So the prime location made you feel secure about the project?

JW: Yes, and also the fact that there is no development like this in this price point. All of the new construction on the waterfront

is well over $1,000 a square foot and we start at $500-$600psf fully amenitized with security, valet, 24-hour concierge, fitness center, social room, bike share program, pet walk, rooftop yoga deck. We are even looking at putting solar on the roof of the building that we are hoping will lower the homeowners’ fees.

We are the perfect example of what livability and walkability really are. Within 50 yards, is retail, dining, parks and waterfront which are all the things people want. This is a community-based asset that is all about connectivity, which I think is really important.

JP: How has the process been so far? Is there anything that has surprised you?

JW: We have had a lot of neighbors stopping by to say how excited they are that the project is happening, which feels great. People in the Grove are very invested in the historical value of the neighborhood so that was surprising. I lived in the Grove for 7 years. I was encouraged by the locals falling in love with what we are doing and how we are building in a sustainable way.

JP: What do you think the future holds?

JW: I think this sort of building product is the future, a sustainable, boutique, community-based, walkable, livable product. I think that’s what everybody today is looking for.

For more information about Arbor and other new development projects, please call us at (305) 615-1376.

Summer 2017 Opulence

141

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

Springtime in New York City

by Noah Freedman

Just

as in every previous year, the residential market has heated up in New York City and is expected to remain strong during 2017. We continue to see strong inventory

in the re-sale market as the previously overheated new development market has leveled off across the city. A balance between ample supply and consistent, qualified demand has created a robustly paced market.

The Luxury sector is slower than in the last couple of years, but it remains stable, at least below the $10 million price point. Many properties that had been under construction during past years were finally completed, and a large number of long anticipated closings have shown the true value of each submarket, as closings were recorded, and final sale prices revealed across submarkets.

Central Park

Although interest rates experienced an incremental increase, there are still historically low rates available to the most qualified borrowers, and consumers have quickened their pace in obtaining mortgage pre-approvals in order to benefit from current rates before expected increases later this year.

The rental market has experienced an oversupply of luxury new development, with more than 25,000 new high-end apartments added to the NYC housing stock this year.

While rents in the luxury sector of the market remain historically high, the quality of the product is better than ever before. Many landlords are offering considerable incentives to tenants, such as free rent (up to three months free in some properties) and paid broker fees. The sub-luxury rental market is just as hot as ever, with fast moving properties and top dollar collected on â&#x20AC;&#x153;ordinaryâ&#x20AC;? apartments throughout the city.

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thinking of purchasing, selling, renting, or investing in property in New York City, BOND New York is your single source and key to the entire city. We are here to answer your questions or set your aspirations into motion!

142

Opulence Summer 2017

N e w Yor k 212.672.6350 | B on d N ewyork .com

Loft Living Tribeca 17 WHITE STREET, #3A New York, NY 10013 4 Bedrooms 3 Baths 3,0 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $5,325,000

Live with downtown authenticity in this rare 3000 sq ft 4 Bedroom loft located at the crossroads of Avenue of the Americas and White Street in the center of TriBeCa. Agent: Kenneth Tiger Koehn (646) 723-3022

Stylish Brownstone Chelsea 455 WEST 22ND STREET, #PH New York, NY 10011 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths 1,700 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $2,940,000

Modern Luxury Living Inside With Old World Brownstone Charm Outside. Located on the most gorgeous Tree-Lined Block in Prime West Chelsea.

Agent: Shana Allen (212) 645-8800

Urban Elegance Chelsea 151 WEST 21ST STREET #6B New York, NY 10011 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths 1,272 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $2,850,000

Layout with 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, allowing for separation between your gracious living room and sleeping quarters to maximize privacy.

Agent: David Namer (212) 672-6350

Summer 2017 Opulence

143

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

The Closing

A

great big thank you to our Top Producers for the last quarter Noelia Chaskielberg, Mavi Haime, Pamela Diaz De Leon. Mavi has been traveling back and forth to Colombia and Mexico for her clients presenting projects, Pamela’s circle of

influence currently has her working on an exclusive listing in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, and Noelia continues to give great service to her loyal clientele who have been working with her for years.

I am also so happy to announce that Opulence International Realty has successfully completed the first phase of our “One Tree for Every Key” program that provides for the planting of a native tree for every real estate closing to help reduce our carbon footprint and increase Miami’s tree canopy.

Did you know that that the Miami tree canopy is only at 12%? Most cities are at 20%. Through the coordinated efforts of Million Trees Miami,

Neat Streets Miami, and Green Miami Events, Opulence gave a sizeable donation to a North Miami green restoration area at the corner of 163rd Street and Biscayne Blvd (see picture inset). Several key players were in attendance including the Mayor of North Miami Beach, George Vallejo, Commissioner of North Miami Beach, Anthony F. DeFillipo, CEO David Hammond, Opulence Broker Jill Patterson, and Realtor Mavi Haime, who spearheaded this program. We are so proud to be part of the green movement and helping South Florida to grow responsibly.

Have a wonderful summer, everyone, and please think of Opulence for all of your real estate needs. Our knowledgeable agents are ready to help.

Jill Patterson, Broker Opulence International Realty

144

Opulence Summer 2017

Elevate your experience. Play your favorite Las Vegas style slots, enjoy the thrill of live Blackjack, indulge at the world-class NYY Steak and live it up at Legends Lounge.

LIVE THE GOOD LIFE. casinococo.com Must be at least 21 years old to play Slots and Table Games or to receive Playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club benefits. Must be 18 or older to play Live Poker. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1.888.ADMIT.IT.

Experience the sophistication, craftsmanship, and delight of a rotating, personalized timepiece collection.

One of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most unique luxury timepiece selections When, where, and how you want it.

Discover, experience and share with us at elevenjames.com or call 855-ELEVEN-J